Re-Grading the New Orleans Saints 2013 Draft Class
 

The idea of doing a regrade of the drafts came up in a previous thread so here it is. FA and picking up 5th year options is a good point in time to look back and reflect, So here it is A POLL in all its glory.

Re-Grading the New Orleans Saints 2013 Draft Class

New Orleans Saints (Mickey Loomis, Sean Payton)

Average Career Approximate Value: 14.3.
First-round pick: S Kenny Vaccaro (No. 15).
Best pick: OT Terron Armstead (third round).
Worst pick: None.
Comment: Really good draft for the Saints, who got two very good players in Vaccaro and Armstead within their first three picks. Third-round pick DT John Jenkins is also serviceable, as was WR Kenny Stills, who is now on the Dolphins.

NFL draft 2013: Grading each team's picks, three years later


Round 1, Pick 15 (15) Kenny Vaccaro SS 6'0" 214 Texas 87.7
Pick Analysis: "You finally have a safety that can play with Malcolm Jenkins as far as an athlete." -- Mike Mayock


Round 3, Pick 13 (75) Terron Armstead OT 6'5" 306 Arkansas-Pine Bluff 84.0
Pick Analysis: "He's as raw as can be but had as freaky a combine as anyone not named Lane Johnson. When you plug him into New Orleans, this kid is a developmental player. You need to redshirt him, and he's a starter next year." -- Mike Mayock


Round 3, Pick 20 (82) (From Bears through Dolphins) John Jenkins DT 6'4" 346 Georgia 81.3
Pick Analysis: The Saints continue to build on defense with the strong, quick Jenkins, who impressed at his pro day (notching a 5.2-second 40-yard dash and a 4.94-second short shuttle).


Round 5, Pick 11 (144) Kenny Stills WR 6'0" 194 Oklahoma 66.0
Pick Analysis: "He's an interesting kid because he can run. I'd like to see him be more physical. I think he has good hands. When you get to New Orleans with a guy like Drew Brees, he'll find a way to get the football to him." -- Mike Mayock

Round 6, Pick 15 (183) Rufus Johnson DE 6'4" 266 Tarleton St. 56.9

2013 NFL Draft Tracker

Re: Re-Grading the New Orleans Saints 2013 Draft Class
 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2013_NFL_draft

It's also important to factor who was left on the board...

Our UDRFA haul included G Tim Lelito, RB Khiry Robinson and TE Josh Hill...

Re: Re-Grading the New Orleans Saints 2013 Draft Class
 

We were hobbled by the bountycrap draft limitations. Still bad memories for me.

Re: Re-Grading the New Orleans Saints 2013 Draft Class
 

I'm still not sold on Vaccarro, and wanted Jenkins teammate instead. I give it a B- and only that high because of Armstead.

Re: Re-Grading the New Orleans Saints 2013 Draft Class
 

Go and vote on the poll then! Top of the page :chug:

Re: Re-Grading the New Orleans Saints 2013 Draft Class
 

(A-) Round 1, Pick 15 (15) SS Kenny Vaccaro, Texas; Height: 6'0"; Weight: 214 lbs

(A+) Round 3, Pick 13 (75) LT Terron Armstead, Arkansas-Pine Bluff; Height: 6'5"; Weight: 306 lbs

(D-) *Round 3, Pick 20 (82) (From Bears through Dolphins) John Jenkins, Georgia; Height: 6'4"; Weight: 346 lbs

*Miami traded this selection to New Orleans in exchange for two fourth-round selections from New Orleans (106th and 109th); that's two (2) picks...

(A+) Round 5, Pick 11 (144) WR Kenny Stills, Oklahoma; Height: 6'0"; Weight: 194

(F) Round 6, Pick 15 (183) DE Rufus Johnson, Tarleton St.; Height: 6'4; Weight: 266 lbs

(A-) UDRFA To Make The Team: QB Ryan Griffin, LG Tim Lelito, TE Josh Hill

UDRFA To Tryout And Make The Team: RB Khiry Robinson

Overall Draft Grade: (B-)

Overall Rookie Class Grade: (B+)

This should have been an A+ draft and RFA haul even with the second round penalty; but the move up for Jenkins when other NT were available was costly; and though Rufus Johnson was a great, feel-good story, he was a poor fit and many scratched their heads as to why the Saints threw the pick away as they did; they'd done better trading it, rolling it forward; give Jeff Ireland alot of credit for getting Dannell Ellerbe AND a 3rd round pick for Stills from Miami...

Wonder WTF happen this year? Guess Payton decided he didn't like sharing in the draft room...

Re: Re-Grading the New Orleans Saints 2013 Draft Class
 

I would rate it A even if it was just for Armstead. This was a pretty good draft overall.

Re: Re-Grading the New Orleans Saints 2013 Draft Class
 

We could have had Kwan Geathers over Jenkins. I think that Georgia coach come to Payton and sold his snake oil pitch and Payton got bit.

Re: Re-Grading the New Orleans Saints 2013 Draft Class
 

I give it an A. Because we got a starting LT out of it and I still never understood why we traded Stills. Add to the fact that most Saints' fans were on the Jarvis Jones train. That didn't work out well for Pitt and I think Vaccaro is a much better player.

Re: Re-Grading the New Orleans Saints 2013 Draft Class
 

Since Vaccaro's rookie season I really haven't seen anything of note from him.

He doesn't land the big hits, doesn't make any interceptions and 2 seasons ago missed more tackles than I've had hot dinners.

I can't blame it all on him because we have lost the battle upfront for years now, hopefully an improved front 7 will let him go back to his rookie year level of play.

Re: Re-Grading the New Orleans Saints 2013 Draft Class
 

I still annoyed we missed Star
Lotulelei and Danny Shelton over the past few years

Re: Re-Grading the New Orleans Saints 2013 Draft Class
 

Need more pop than just Armstead.

Grade F

Re: Re-Grading the New Orleans Saints 2013 Draft Class
 

After being suffocated by Goodell in 2012, the 2013 class is still in tact, or on the roster. I think 2014 was a disaster.

Re: Re-Grading the New Orleans Saints 2013 Draft Class
 

4 out of 5 picks are starters.

An F?

http://memecrunch.com/meme/12P2A/c-mon-man/image.png

Re: Re-Grading the New Orleans Saints 2013 Draft Class
 

come on danno. 4 total picks. it's liberal math when all numbers are equal.

Re: Re-Grading the New Orleans Saints 2013 Draft Class
 

B

1) We needed a better pick in the 1st than Vaccaro. Then again, I wanted OLB Jarvis Jones (who may still turn out worth it but hasn't yet). And at least V isn't a bust. Mostly remembering hating losing out on DT Star L'...preview of Deja Vu all over again when we lost out on DT Shelton the following year.

3) Loved the Armstead pick then and just as much now. Then loved we selected a big NT (finally) after all these years of runs up the middle. Alas, Jenkins wasn't the best one to fill the slot.

6) could not figure out why we took a flier on Rufus. What I really hoped for was to double up on the DT/NT we clearly needed then and now. I wanted Geathers in the 6th or 7th but he went UDFA to the Chargers (and made their team which surely shows he deserved a 6th or 7th).

This year, I like we did double up on DTs with Rankins and Oynemata. So thankful for the shots that I'll give a pass on the targets.

Re: Re-Grading the New Orleans Saints 2013 Draft Class
 

I thought Geathers plays for Cinncy.

Re: Re-Grading the New Orleans Saints 2013 Draft Class
 

Stills got traded to Miami because his attitude rubbed the leaders in the locker room the wrong way

Re: Re-Grading the New Orleans Saints 2013 Draft Class
 

How drunk were the 2 people that gave the draft a D and F?

Re: Re-Grading the New Orleans Saints 2013 Draft Class
 

It confounds me how dumb someone has to be to give a draft an F when after three years 4 of the 5 picks are NFL starters. Every team would kill for that success rate.

Armstead may be an All-Pro (not just Pro-Bowl) this year
Vaccaro may flirt with a probowl if he continues to improve.
JJenkins may be the most under-rated player on our entire defense.
KStills looks to be a starter again next year.
Rufus was a late round gamble that didn't pan out. Shocker? Hardly

How anyone could rate that draft anything lower than a B indicates they have absolutely no freaking idea about the NFL or the NFL Draft.

Not shocking however, given the comments by our so called draft gurus about this current draft.

Re: Re-Grading the New Orleans Saints 2013 Draft Class
 

This just in from Sean Payton with a grade for your grade. :bs:

He gives you a "F" you. :lolup:

Re: Re-Grading the New Orleans Saints 2013 Draft Class
 

Almost gave it a B rating.

Kenny Vaccaro is still a work in progress and I am wondering if this is as good as it gets. As usual I wanted to trade down. Alec Ogletree was my man.

Terron Armstead we all saw the writing on the wall

John Jenkins did not like it then and he has done little to change my mind. Trading up to get him only made matters worse. He is the only big butted player on the team still so that is the biggest reason he is a starter. He get pushed around way to much for a man this big. Maybe DA is his savior. My pick was to stay put and draft Jesse Williams in round 4

Kenny Stills caught me by surprise. Stills has a gift. But he is a dolphin now and the Dannell Ellerbe and a third in 2015 on P.J. Williams is full of unanswered questions because of IR issues. A.J.Klein was my pick. He was everything he was billed as. A Swiss Army Knife LB.

Rufus Johnson say what? shame part about it is the Pats love the kid for special teams and DE depth. Never understood Rob trying to make a OLB out of a kid 6'5/272.

So 5 players with 7 picks and one of those goes Roger Goodell so by 2014 standards this was a home run. :)

Trading up for John Jenkins and losing both Rufus Johnson and to some extent Sills made me drop the grade to C.

Lets see how players do under DA. getting rid of rob alone could change everything

With Rob thrown into the evaluations I should have included an Incomplete as an option

Re: Re-Grading the New Orleans Saints 2013 Draft Class
 

Yep. JJ isn't horrible be he certainly isn't good either. Kind of soft (wanted Brandon Williams in the draft), Kevin Williams played limited minutes had almost as many tackles. In my mind, an upgrade is necessary.

If anything we need a pocket closing NT to help the ends.

Re: Re-Grading the New Orleans Saints 2013 Draft Class
 

Where does the JJenkins hate come from?
I thought he played just fine and PFF ranked him as our 4th best defensive player on the entire team. He also had the 4th most snaps on our team.

Ya'll wonder why we didn't draft a NT? Because we already have a pretty damn good one on the team already.

Re: Re-Grading the New Orleans Saints 2013 Draft Class
 

That would be saying something if the defense as a whole did not stink up front.

never was a huge fan. year one i was pulling crow from the freezer. It did not take long before he went back to being the player he was in college and the crow went right back in the freezer.

I am giving him and any player that had Rob Ryan as their coach a pass.

Re: Re-Grading the New Orleans Saints 2013 Draft Class
 

Not been that impressed with Jenkins. Teams have been tunning through the front regularly and he hasn't exactly freed up anyone else to rush but taking on more than one blocker. As has been said lets see what he does under a new DC

Re: Re-Grading the New Orleans Saints 2013 Draft Class
 

As much as I'd like to sport your Saints beer goggles, put the pipe down.

KVac should be the best in the NFL for where he was picked; not a question mark or situational player he seems to have become. He did kick arse his rookie year. We'll see this year if he steps it up. Grade C

Armstead just got his money. Something KVac did not get, a second contract. Armstead improved as a third rounder, exactly what you want. Grade A+

No second rounder. Grade F.

Jenkins was good his rookie year then disappeared. Too many shrimp poboys, or chickenz wings. He's still here only because there is no one else... until this year. We had to get Williams last year to help him out. Maybe his best role is as a situational player. That means his days are numbered. Grade C

Stills and Rufus are no longer on the team. So that's a fail with a big F.

The big fat F brings the average down to an F.. maybe an F+.

:dunce:

Re: Re-Grading the New Orleans Saints 2013 Draft Class
 

How is Stills a F
He was drafted in the 5th round made to look good by Brees and traded for a 3rd round (PJ Williams) and Ellerbe

Re: Re-Grading the New Orleans Saints 2013 Draft Class
 

Re: Re-Grading the New Orleans Saints 2013 Draft Class
 

Well, he's not on our team for one. If he were the chiznit, he'd "stills" be here. Simply because SP and Loomie applied their used car salesman skill set to get something for Stills does not necessarily upgrade the pick.

Re: Re-Grading the New Orleans Saints 2013 Draft Class
 

I disagree, we upgraded a position of need by getting Ellerbe (when healthy), landed PJ Williams who hopefully should be good to go this season and found Willie Snead who I believe is twice the receiver Kenny Stills is.

Re: Re-Grading the New Orleans Saints 2013 Draft Class
 

OK... So Slick Willie was a FA we added to the practice squad in 2014 and whom eventually worked his way onto the club. Ellerbe is good when healthy but is a proud member of the Tub Club. He may be gone this year, next year for sure. PJ is part of another draft. But as long as we're counting him, the jury still is out as he's also shown a propensity to be in the same Tub Club.

Re: Re-Grading the New Orleans Saints 2013 Draft Class
 

It's "re-grading the 2013 draft" not re-grading the players still on our team. Stills was traded because of his mouth (from what I have read) not because his lack of skill. He would of been a 1000 yard WR on the Saints last year. In the trade we got a starting LB and up and coming CB. KV is a really good player. Wait till this year when he has pressure up front and a better supporting cast. Armstead is a top 3 LT. Jenkins is a solid player that will improve in a line consisting of Fairly, Rainkins, Edebali, Jordan and Richardson. If you want to give out a F grade reserve it for the 2014 draft.

Re: Re-Grading the New Orleans Saints 2013 Draft Class
 

Fair point if you don't care if they are no longer on your team. Although one would think the goal is to draft and keep them on our team, not develop a drafted player to mature elsewhere, if he ever does at all. NE has done a killing scooping up discarded players only to mold them into real good role players. Just as we did with Slick Willie, although not part of the 2013 draft.

Re: Re-Grading the New Orleans Saints 2013 Draft Class
 

Now these are the grades I like to see... down the road to see who panned out. This is a real testament to how and what we have done in drafts and FA.

Re: Re-Grading the New Orleans Saints 2013 Draft Class
 

Armstead is the only serious A in the group. It was about a 50/50 roll of the dice. I give the draft a B.