New Orleans Saints' biggest steal, reach in the 2016 NFL draft
 

It’s obviously way too early to be giving a pass/fail grade on this year’s NFL draft picks, but there’s no harm in throwing out some opinions on which picks seem like the best value based on my individual player grades. With that in mind, here are my picks for the New Orleans Saints’ biggest steal and reach of this year’s draft.

Steal: Daniel Lasco, RB, California (7th Round, 237th overall)
The Saints have plenty of bodies in the backfield, but I wouldn’t be surprised if Lasco is still able to carve out a role. It may not happen right away, but Lasco’s versatility and ability to play on all three downs, as well as contribute on special teams should keep the Saints from letting him get away.

New Orleans Saints’ biggest steal, reach in the 2016 NFL draft | The Draft Wire

Re: New Orleans Saints' biggest steal, reach in the 2016 NFL draft
 

The more I read about Oneyamata the more I'm convinced he wasn't really a reach in the 4th.

Maybe just a little, but not much. Reports were that a few other teams were looking at him in the 4th as well


And I agree Lasco could be a steal. I'm surprised we weren't hammered more for taking a RB when we already have about 13 on the team.

Re: New Orleans Saints' biggest steal, reach in the 2016 NFL draft
 

OMG... should we trade Ingram while we still can?

Re: New Orleans Saints' biggest steal, reach in the 2016 NFL draft
 

The Saints NEED Rankins, Thomas and Bell to step up. If any one of the other picks or UDFA's contributes, they will be steals.

Re: New Orleans Saints' biggest steal, reach in the 2016 NFL draft
 

Reach Rankings Bell and Oneyamata
Steal? none. Williams is odds on favorite 3 years down the road
but that is just my opinion and we all know those are like

Re: New Orleans Saints' biggest steal, reach in the 2016 NFL draft
 

We signed 3 wr rookie free agents, 2 are big like 6"3 and both have good hands. One wr is 5"7. All 3 have a shot. We signed a rookie db from A&M I like and a safety from Ole Miss who I think looks great. Oh we signed a white rookie wr who benched 225 27 times and reminds me of the white receiver in New England. The Cal rb is interesting. He may get some time in the slot. Cant wait to see em all play.

Re: New Orleans Saints' biggest steal, reach in the 2016 NFL draft
 

If I may ask, how is the #1 Rated DT in the Draft a Reach? Sheldon Rankins can play both The Run and Pass and more importantly, he plays them both effectively. He is able to play multiple fronts and multiple positions. He is the furthest thing from a reach. Even if he is just solid, he would be an indispensable piece of our team.

Re: New Orleans Saints' biggest steal, reach in the 2016 NFL draft
 

Rankins - Selected exactly where he was projected and fits a need perfectly (The most disruptive interior rusher of the class, penetrating due to his burst, agility and NFL-ready hand play.
Overall Rank: 14
Position Rank: 1 )

Thomas - Selected right where he was projected and fits a need perfectly (NFL COMPARISON Charles Johnson)

Vonn Bell - No 1 ranked FS in the draft. Selected right where he was projected and fits a need perfectly

Re: New Orleans Saints' biggest steal, reach in the 2016 NFL draft
 

Not everyone had him as the #1 DT in the draft. My fear is simple: he could be the media darling that got all the hype after the season was over not while he was on the field.

Re: New Orleans Saints' biggest steal, reach in the 2016 NFL draft
 

I beg to differ. As The Former Bears GM stated, Sheldon Rankins was one of the Safest Prospects in the Draft. You knew that he would give consistent effort, He would listen, he would take to Coaching and above all the kid has his head on straight. Just what The Saints need.

Re: New Orleans Saints' biggest steal, reach in the 2016 NFL draft
 

Doesn't matter. To call him a reach is ridiculous.

Re: New Orleans Saints' biggest steal, reach in the 2016 NFL draft
 

its just an opinion that all as i said. he gets a lets sit back and see rating in my book.

as far as ridiculous? time will tell and i stand by what i said during the draft

with that said i will be cheering the draft on to make me eat crow.

Re: New Orleans Saints' biggest steal, reach in the 2016 NFL draft
 

Right after the draft, I went back and watched quite a bit of Rankins tape @ Louisville. NEVER once did I see him get shut down. Not once. The guy consistently beats the man in front of him (see Senior bowl before the knee injury). He has shown just about every thing you can (combine, Senior bowl, & more importantly game footage) see as a top notch interior D tackle.

You could be right that everyone did not see him as the #1 DT but I'm sure he was high on a lot of NFL teams draft board based on team need. Rankins could easily become an animal on that D line.

I don't see him as a reach at all.

Re: New Orleans Saints' biggest steal, reach in the 2016 NFL draft
 

Fixed that for you

Re: New Orleans Saints' biggest steal, reach in the 2016 NFL draft
 

The only reach I see might have been Onyemata......but not much. The sky is the limit for that ultra talented young man. If he gets in some snaps and hones his skills this year he'll be a valuable asset next year. What else do you want from a fourth round draft choice? Oh, and Lasco was a steal!!! he could lead this team in jersey sales for years.

Re: New Orleans Saints' biggest steal, reach in the 2016 NFL draft
 

watch him struggle to shed blocks in games against Florida State and Texas A&M.

Worse case? Another Sedrick Ellis? Do not see see it
Best case? Another Arron Donald? Do not see it
Media favorite comparison? Another Kawann Short? I do not see it.
So were will he end up? this is what makes pre draft to the real world so much fun.


Will he be good? Probably
Will he be great? doubt it
Will he be all pro? seriously doubt it

I just do not see him as a corner stone of defense. A good piece for the sum of whole.

So he was a reach IMO at 12.

Draft ranking? mid 20s or lower. When the season ended he was a solid round two guy by most. Still think Kenny Clark was better player during the season than Rankings and if you want a quick big guy he was a safer pick.

Nick Fairley will make or break Rankings. Unless a quality starting NT drops from the sky. Do not put Rankings on the opposite side of Jordan. Sandwich him between Fairley and Jordan. That is what I am expecting

Rankings reminds me of Peat -
lacks a ‘mean streak’
standard run of the Mill ‘high floor low ceiling’ prospect.

That was basically how I saw this kid.

But he is saints now so saddle up the doggies and lets see what you got big boy. :bng:

Re: New Orleans Saints' biggest steal, reach in the 2016 NFL draft
 

Sometimes, a DT doesn't shed blocks due to sheme and the need to tie up blockers to allow the LB's to flow to the ball.