jeanpierre

jeanpierre

BY ROD WALKER | rwalker@theadvocate.com Mar 22, 2019 - 6:01 pm

Saints assistant general manager and college scouting director Jeff Ireland didn't treat Friday's Pro Day at LSU any differently than any of the other Pro Days he's been to this year or in year's past.

Despite the Saints not having a draft pick until the second round of April's NFL draft - the No. 62 pick overall - Ireland isn't cutting any corners when it comes to evaluating players.

No, it's not easy not having a first round pick. But it doesn't change his approach.

"It's going to be difficult, but we approach every draft pretty much the same," Ireland said. "We are going to evaluate every player we can possibly get our eyes on. We're going to build the board exactly the same way that we always have."

Ireland echoed the same draft philosophy Sean Payton talked about earlier in March at the NFL Combine in Indianapolis.

"You don't approach it any differently," Payton said at the combine. "You're grading everything because it's very easy to acquire an asset. Someone may say, ‘Well you don't have a first-round pick.’ Well, right now we don't, but if we wanted one we could probably get one. So you have to be on top of how you see the players and how you see the value."

Payton didn't attend Friday's Pro Day at LSU. General manager Mickey Loomis, as well as defensive coordinator Dennis Allen, defensive backs coach Aaron Glenn and defensive line coach Ryan Nielson were among the Saints' staff in attendance. Pittsburgh Steelers coach Mike Tomlin was the only NFL head coach seen at Friday's event.

Ireland feels like he can find a diamond in the rough even if the Saints don't have a pick until the second day of the draft. Two years ago, Ireland helped the Saints land Marcus Williams in the second round and Alvin Kamara and Alex Anzalone in the third round. All three are starters.

"I always feel like a strength of mine is those late round guys," Ireland said. "When our (draft) board gets picked apart and there are still some guys on the board, you feel a strong conviction to draft those players. So we are going to build it the same way and hope for some good players on the back end of the draft. "

The Saints have six picks in this year's draft. In addition to the second round pick, they also have a fifth round, two in the sixth round and two in the seventh round.

And Ireland also know that that just because the Saints currently don't have a pick until the second round, that doesn't mean it's set in stone.

"Anything is possible with Sean and Mickey," Ireland said. "Our job is to acquire the best players possible. When an opportunity and the situation is ideal, that's when you go and try to get another player. You've got to have the ammunition to do that. But if there is a player that attracts us, no doubt."

It's not that my way is the right way, I just make the right way my way...

K Major

"Ireland feels like he can find a diamond in the rough even if the Saints don't have a pick until the second day of the draft. Two years ago, Ireland helped the Saints land Marcus Williams in the second round and Alvin Kamara and Alex Anzalone in the third round. All three are starters".

I have a feeling Ireland and his staff will find a quality starter in the 2nd round of the draft.

jeanpierre

I'd rather trade back about ten picks into the top of the third round, some familiar trade partner like New England, and possibly pick up an add'l third round pick...

But this is Sean Payton's team so we're gonna trade up, if anything...

There are several offensive guards, safeties that should be available in round 3 that could start immediately for us...

jeanpierre

Rugby Saint II

I'm treating the draft differently this year......I'm just not going to watch it rather than being glued to every pick in case we made a trade. Every year I try to study the players we can draft that will fill a need. This year we don't have a shot at any of the top players and I hope that we draft a not so sexy pick by going after an O-lineman in the second. I know I highjack several threads with this theme, but I seriously believe it is the most critical position for us right now.

I'm beating a dead horse I know....but I can't find a desk to pound. lol

I am following our bng draft experts somewhat for the players we hope to fall to us in the draft and a couple of little known late round highly touted prospects. Personally I'd like to see us package a few late round prospects and move up into the middle rounds where we covet a player. Our roster is deep and it will be hard for a draft pick to make the team this year just like last year.

The Dude

Can’t really think of any players worth anything that we could afford to trade except Teddy and I think that would more likely happen after camp starts than the draft.

jeanpierre

Peat is likely traded this year, even with the savings on going from Unger to Easton; sought compensation will be a high Day 2 pick from a team like AZ, maybe the Patriots who could use a LT now...

Unless an extension for Peat is announced before the NFL Draft, he'll like be traded in a last second sign and trade deal...

Not that everyone in the Saints local press club knows all the Saints moves, but it's been one of the most common discussed topics...

Makes sense, got to get stronger, younger and cheaper on the o-line AND extensions coming for Rankins (long-term health?), Thomas ($20mil/year), Vonn Bell (pay or cut bait), and Onyemata (instead of Rankins)...

And then you've got the 2017 draft class coming right after that...

It's not that my way is the right way, I just make the right way my way...