The off-season recipe for success
 

Free Agency
Address holes with quality 2nd tier guys in free agency. Like we did with Greer, Lewis, Fujita, Shanle, Dave Thomas, Watson, Shraper, etc...

This allows us to approach the draft with the BPA mentality, taking needs mostly out of the equation.

Stay away from the mega money splash signings unless a freak stud becomes available via trade or free agency (Vilma, Brees etc).

Draft
Do not draft solely for need, but eliminate positions of non-need. Obviously if a Deuce McAllister type player drops a half-round, yeah you probably pull the trigger. But if that doesn't happen, eliminate positions of non-need.

Trust your board. If the best available pass rusher doesn't really grade out any better than what you already have, move along. I think thats what happened with OG in 2016. After the 2nd round there just weren't any prospects better than the young guys we already had.

Philosophy
Pick a scheme and target players fit that scheme. Steelers, Ravens and Pats did that for years with huge success. Enough of the square pegs in round holes.

Damn, why aren't I an NFL GM? It looks so easy on paper.:p

Re: The off-season recipe for success
 

Now that makes sense.

Re: The off-season recipe for success
 

As simple as it sounds so many teams fail to use logic and try to get to freaking cute out of desperation to fill a need.

The saints need to decide if they are going to load up Drew and ride the few years left to the promise land. Defense is not going to get us there anytime soon. Accept it is a work in progress and build an offense that dictates the game. We are so freaking close. With a little luck 3 or 4 pieces will allow the saints to pass all over teams as usual but more importantly pound the rock down teams throats.

Re: The off-season recipe for success
 

You forgot draft all Bama and Clemson players!:bng:

Re: The off-season recipe for success
 

and no LSU players????????????

Re: The off-season recipe for success
 

Build the lines.
O and D.
The rest, for the most part, is already in place.

Re: The off-season recipe for success
 

i like your senerio, but would you grab fournet if he slips to 11, or get that elite pass rusher? do we make sure we have a trade for ingram before we snatch fournet is it even possible to do it, or just grab and trade him back for the mother load.

Re: The off-season recipe for success
 

No, we have plenty fine RBs. RBs don't bring home the ring. Fournet will end up as a mid quality, short term RB, in the big leagues and since we don't have a Cowboys quality OL, he'd be wasted in our system. Soooo we stick with the fronts on either side of the ball. Preferably the D side.

Oh yeah. Danno you forgot the most important part -our new coaches.

Re: The off-season recipe for success
 

Continue to tap that "Ohio State" pipeline!!

Re: The off-season recipe for success
 

Don't forget, Win all your home games and 2 on the road = 10 - 6

Re: The off-season recipe for success
 

This is a good year to be #11. Going to be 2, maybe 3 QB's taken in the top 10, leaving us a stud defensive player (unless SP drafts another toy) or O-lineman (some people love C. Robinson, others not so much).

I'd be happy with CB Humphrey at 11

Re: The off-season recipe for success
 

The thing that worries me with Humphrey is that he only has to cover for like 1.5 seconds thanks to their pass rush.

Re: The off-season recipe for success
 

If by a miracle Deshaun Watson falls to 11, I think we have to pick him. His calmness under pressure is incredible.

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Re: The off-season recipe for success
 

It would be great if we took the preseason games seriously and win a couple. Take good form into the regular season.

Re: The off-season recipe for success
 

I on the other hand would be careful selecting a CB @ 11. Is Humphrey truly a Marcus Peters type talent and hype or is he a benefactor of a stout front 7 that beat up just about every opponent in the SEC this past season?

However I really like LB Reuben Foster.

Re: The off-season recipe for success
 

so, pretty much just like here?

but seriously, that is a good point.
looking at DB depth chart at the end of the year, however, is just scary

Re: The off-season recipe for success
 

Agree with Danno's points. BPA is better than need-drafting in the NFL. We also need to stop trading up and wasting picks. We don't have 83 compensatory picks to fall back on like most of the other teams do.

Re: The off-season recipe for success
 

Our front office doesn't value draft picks in the least. We don't get compensatory picks like the Pats do because we don't let players go while their value is high. That and Roger Godhell doesn't like us. Screw you Roger! :argue:

Re: The off-season recipe for success
 

Completely onboard with Danno . Reaching for need is proven to be unproductive. If the scouts have a player highly rated over another player of need You take the BPA. Our FO has been good about addressing need in FA. Pass rusher is the biggest need with CB, LB, OG. being areas of main concern. Our linebacker group is weak and needs shoring up. CB and Guard should be the focus in FA.