Did Saints reach for Florida State's Rick Leonard? Agent: New Orleans outmaneuvered competition

Barry from MS · 05-01-2018, 08:12 AM

Here we go again. Saw him play. Numerous times. Unless he's highly motivated, gets stronger, gets balanced, and coached up he'll contribute as a back-up in 2-3 yrs. SP said basically the same thing about him. Too much talent that would contribute in areas of need sitting at the spot at the time.

And aren't agents like defense attorneys anyways? I'd take their word as gospel, too.

Euphoria · 05-01-2018, 08:27 AM

The whole point in drafting someone is so you pick a player you want and not risk them signing via FA to another team or fighting over a player in FA.

I seen a number of posts and articles about the reach for him but honestly if that is your guy you get him. You don't take a chance on someone else getting him. Just like the Brown snagging Baker at #1. Many say they could have got him with 4 but if he is your guy you take him. You don't take those chances.

Its hard to argue what Ireland has done the past couple of years. I really don't hate what they have done this year. Sitting back and getting a player at 27 they may not have felt would have come in and contribute as early as they would like so going after someone they feel could put them in a better position by all means do it. We aren't building a team at this point we are looking for pieces to get us to the next level.

SaintFanInATLHELL · 05-01-2018, 09:00 AM

Originally Posted by Euphoria

The whole point in drafting someone is so you pick a player you want and not risk them signing via FA to another team or fighting over a player in FA.

I seen a number of posts and articles about the reach for him but honestly if that is your guy you get him. You don't take a chance on someone else getting him. Just like the Brown snagging Baker at #1. Many say they could have got him with 4 but if he is your guy you take him. You don't take those chances.

Its hard to argue what Ireland has done the past couple of years. I really don't hate what they have done this year. Sitting back and getting a player at 27 they may not have felt would have come in and contribute as early as they would like so going after someone they feel could put them in a better position by all means do it. We aren't building a team at this point we are looking for pieces to get us to the next level.

I feel the same way about future draft picks. While it may be a reach to give up a future picking spot to get a guy now, if the guy now can contribute now and fills a need now, why is it so critical to save future draft capital? Just look at what happened with Kamara last year. All that talent would have been somewhere else while the Saints sat on their #2 pick for this year.

If Davenport can be developed into a pro bowl DE, and can fill in for Okafor, or even better be a part of the Saints NASCAR package with Jordan, Rankins, and Okafor on obvious passing downs, then isn't that better than sitting on what is likely another bottom of the first round pick for next year?

SFIAH

AsylumGuido · 05-01-2018, 09:02 AM

Originally Posted by Barry from MS

Here we go again. Saw him play. Numerous times. Unless he's highly motivated, gets stronger, gets balanced, and coached up he'll contribute as a back-up in 2-3 yrs. SP said basically the same thing about him. Too much talent that would contribute in areas of need sitting at the spot at the time.

And aren't agents like defense attorneys anyways? I'd take their word as gospel, too.

Jeff Ireland isn't stupid. He has enough irons in the fire to know when other team are showing interest in a player. He knows what teams worked Leonard out and he knows their needs. They took Leonard because they really liked him and they knew he wasn't going to be there past that pick.

As for Payton's view on Leonard, in his post draft interview he said about Leonard "right away I can see a jumbo role and I can see him compete as a gameday backup tackle". Get your facts straight.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YOhaegcI9JY

05-01-2018, 08:27 AM	#2
Euphoria 5000 POSTS! + Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Hollywood, CA Posts: 7,601 Blog Entries: 5	Re: Did Saints reach for Florida State's Rick Leonard? Agent: New Orleans outmaneuvered competition The whole point in drafting someone is so you pick a player you want and not risk them signing via FA to another team or fighting over a player in FA. I seen a number of posts and articles about the reach for him but honestly if that is your guy you get him. You don't take a chance on someone else getting him. Just like the Brown snagging Baker at #1. Many say they could have got him with 4 but if he is your guy you take him. You don't take those chances. Its hard to argue what Ireland has done the past couple of years. I really don't hate what they have done this year. Sitting back and getting a player at 27 they may not have felt would have come in and contribute as early as they would like so going after someone they feel could put them in a better position by all means do it. We aren't building a team at this point we are looking for pieces to get us to the next level. saintfan, SaintFanInATLHELL, jnormand and 4 others like this.
	E U P H O R I A

05-01-2018, 09:00 AM	#3
SaintFanInATLHELL The Professor Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Lithonia, GA Posts: 2,783	Re: Did Saints reach for Florida State's Rick Leonard? Agent: New Orleans outmaneuvered competition Originally Posted by Euphoria The whole point in drafting someone is so you pick a player you want and not risk them signing via FA to another team or fighting over a player in FA. I seen a number of posts and articles about the reach for him but honestly if that is your guy you get him. You don't take a chance on someone else getting him. Just like the Brown snagging Baker at #1. Many say they could have got him with 4 but if he is your guy you take him. You don't take those chances. Its hard to argue what Ireland has done the past couple of years. I really don't hate what they have done this year. Sitting back and getting a player at 27 they may not have felt would have come in and contribute as early as they would like so going after someone they feel could put them in a better position by all means do it. We aren't building a team at this point we are looking for pieces to get us to the next level. I feel the same way about future draft picks. While it may be a reach to give up a future picking spot to get a guy now, if the guy now can contribute now and fills a need now, why is it so critical to save future draft capital? Just look at what happened with Kamara last year. All that talent would have been somewhere else while the Saints sat on their #2 pick for this year. If Davenport can be developed into a pro bowl DE, and can fill in for Okafor, or even better be a part of the Saints NASCAR package with Jordan, Rankins, and Okafor on obvious passing downs, then isn't that better than sitting on what is likely another bottom of the first round pick for next year? SFIAH jnormand, Euphoria, papz and 1 others like this.
	Super Bowl Championships: New Orleans Saints:1, Carolina:0, Atlanta Chokers: STILL ZERO Only Atlanta choked in an unchokable situation... Life is definitely good.

LinkBacks (?) LinkBack to this Thread: https://blackandgold.com/saints/88605-did-saints-reach-florida-states-rick-leonard-agent-new-orleans-outmaneuvered-competition.html
Posted By	For	Type	Date	Hits
Did Saints reach for Florida State's Rick Leonard? Agent: New Orleans outmaneuvered competition	This thread	Refback	05-01-2018 07:16 AM	5
The Latest New Orleans Saints News \| SportSpyder	This thread	Refback	05-01-2018 07:14 AM	8

05-01-2018, 08:12 AM	#1
Barry from MS Site Donor 2014 Join Date: May 2007 Location: TEMPO VC Okefenokee Swamp Posts: 1,985 Blog Entries: 2	Re: Did Saints reach for Florida State's Rick Leonard? Agent: New Orleans outmaneuvered competition Here we go again. Saw him play. Numerous times. Unless he's highly motivated, gets stronger, gets balanced, and coached up he'll contribute as a back-up in 2-3 yrs. SP said basically the same thing about him. Too much talent that would contribute in areas of need sitting at the spot at the time. And aren't agents like defense attorneys anyways? I'd take their word as gospel, too. jeanpierre, Rugby Saint II and ChrisXVI like this.