Re: GRADING THE 2016 NEW ORLEANS SAINTS: SAFETY
 

true enough

round 3 steal?
Eddie Jackson FS/CB Alabama 6000 194 4.53 #4 Sr

Bad part with all the injuries last year we really have no idea what he wants to run in the secondary/ In oakland he liked the single high safety look but depth at safety was an issue there.

Eddie Jackson is listed as SS but he player more of a single high safety look with bama. maybe his tackling skills got him that label. he dropped down in the box, slot and out wide. Out wide is not his best position. Again it is his versatility i like.

Sleeper
David Jones FS/SS/KR Richmond 6015 210 4.53 #13 rSr

Re: GRADING THE 2016 NEW ORLEANS SAINTS: SAFETY
 

Marcus Williams, S, Utah
Budda Baker, S, Washington
Obi Melifonwu, S Connecticut
Justin Evans, S TAM
Malik Hooker - S The Ohio State

At worst all are 5th DB/rotational players who can fit in just about anywhere.

Re: GRADING THE 2016 NEW ORLEANS SAINTS: SAFETY
 

Safety is a B-
On our defense we have too many other concerns, unless Anthony wakes up and our corners automatically become healthy enough to play 16 games.

End of 2016 Regular Season NFL Injury Data Summary: The most injured teams in the NFL through the 2016 regular season were the San Diego Chargers and New Orleans Saints . The Philadelphia Eagles and Tennessee Titans were the healthiest teams through…

Re: GRADING THE 2016 NEW ORLEANS SAINTS: SAFETY
 

Marcus Williams, S, Utah - i could live with it

Budda Baker, S, Washington - too short to play in our division

Obi Melifonwu, S Connecticut - 4 round jump to the 2nd rounder after senior bowl ? makes me wonder if the risk is too high. tempting as it is a 3rd is as high as i would go

Justin Evans, S TAM - love his tackling but his angles in mid to deep coverage leaves a lot to be desired. another SS?

Malik Hooker - S The Ohio State - i see the stud on the field but boy oh boy the mental errors. Is experience really the issue?

Add
Quin Blanding FS/SS Virginia 6011 205 4.58 #3 Jr

UDFA
Leon McQuay III SS USC 6011 195 4.52 #22 Sr

Re: GRADING THE 2016 NEW ORLEANS SAINTS: SAFETY
 

Hagan,
I've seen Malik's name mentioned with JByrd coming out of college. Do you see it that way?

Re: GRADING THE 2016 NEW ORLEANS SAINTS: SAFETY
 

I would take Peppers. A steal if he makes it round 2. He has slid some.

Re: GRADING THE 2016 NEW ORLEANS SAINTS: SAFETY
 

Peppers isn't sliding to Round 2...

Why cut Byrd till you have better in-house?

Reports of Byrd being a problem in the locker room?

Kenny Vaccaro would be a good Free Safety...

As of now, Vonn Bell wasn't worth the move up...

Will Erik Harris get a shot on defense vs coverage teams?

Jamal Adams and Jabrill Peppers are the only two names to know for Day 1...

Re: GRADING THE 2016 NEW ORLEANS SAINTS: SAFETY
 

I'd keep Kenny right where he is at. He has played SAM, WILL, nickel in games and has been extremely effective... very good versatility.

If we can tighten up the corner back position this off season, he can be even more effective at the SS along with his typical WIL/SAM duties. It would be nice if there was someone else who could cover Greg Olsen while Kenny blitzes but I see no one else capable at the moment.

This is one guy I'd extend.

Re: GRADING THE 2016 NEW ORLEANS SAINTS: SAFETY
 

The two huge upside gambles at 11 IMO are

*Malik Hooker FS OSU 6020 206 4.54 #24 rSo
Hooker is able to make so many plays on the ball because of his incredible vision and range. He does a great job of reading the quarterbacks eyes and taking off towards the intended target as soon as the QB commits. Once he gets to the ball, his ball skills are put on full display. He looks like one of the best defensive backs in the nation. The talented safety can sometimes bite on fakes. Mental break downs are a bit too comon so how steep the learning curve will be with this rSo? tackling needs work

vs

Marlon Humphrey CB/FS Alabama 6005 196 4.49 #26 rSo
Rolling the dice a bit here and betting on upside. Med risk/High reward. The “future NFL corner” written all over him? Great athleticism, size and speed. Bama CB worry me but....how do you tell a 1st rounder to return to school? “He’s the most complete corner I’ve seen come out of there,” said one scout. “He’s as violent I’ve ever seen a corner be. I guess a little of that comes from the dad and he just carried it over. He can be a big-time player but he’s got to get some eye discipline.” Relies too much on his physical gifts

I will roll the dice on Marlon Humphrey before Malik Hooker. at 11 all day long

As for the Byrd bit I see little comparison. Byrd was not as gifted but heck of a lot more disciplined. Hooker is a bigger faster version of Vonn Bell. Both look totally lost out there way to often.

Kenny to FS would scare me to death. Keep him in the box and jump him all around to drive people nuts.

What if

1st
Marlon Humphrey CB/FS Alabama 6005 196 4.49 #26 rSo

Round 2 options
Gareon Conley CB OSU 6002 195 4.50 #8 rJr
Cordrea Tankersley CB/FS Clemson 6002 195 4.48 #25 Sr
Quincy Wilson CB/FS Florida 6012 211 4.54 #6 Jr
Obi Melifonwu FS/SS/OLB UConn 6032 216 4.58? #20 rSr

3rd
Eddie Jackson FS/CB Alabama 6000 194 4.53 #4 Sr

Would go a long way to solving issues in the secondary.

How would saints nation react first three rounds dealing with secondary?

Re: GRADING THE 2016 NEW ORLEANS SAINTS: SAFETY
 

I wouldn't want Peppers at FS, only SS. As far as Vaccarro at FS it would be a disaster waiting to happen. Not so sure he doesn't slide some. I'm not so sure Harper will be back? Byrd, Peppers, Bell and Harris wouldn't be so bad. The only $ are Byrds contract and the rest are on rookie deals. Vaccarro is on a 5th year option and will want $ next season and as far as his total body of work since being drafted he's not worth big money.