New Orleans Saints 2019 draft outlook: Safeties

Attached Thumbnails · 04-08-2019, 08:53 AM

With a pair of young, affordable and reliable players locked in as the starters, the New Orleans Saints have positioned themselves into a sweet spot at safety thanks to some successful recent drafts.

Marcus Williams is entering his third season as a pro after the Saints took him in the second round out of Utah in 2017. He picked off six passes, broke up 10 and made 130 tackles in his first two years with the Saints.

Next to him, Vonn Bell — another former second-round pick — blossomed in his third season with the Saints. His improvement in coverage allowed him to see the field in a more traditional safety role after being used heavily around the line of scrimmage in 2017. Still, that is where he is strongest: 40 of his career-high 88 tackles came in run support.

Williams turns 23 in September, Bell turns 25 in December. Between them, they will count about $3 million against the Saints salary cap in 2019.

Veteran Kurt Coleman was jettisoned this offseason to save $4 million in salary cap space, his price not matching his production. Bell’s rise caused Coleman’s role to dip dramatically as the season progressed, evidenced most prominently In New Orleans’ two playoff games when Coleman played just three defensive snaps.

The position is entrusted to the youngsters, but that does not mean New Orleans can hold fast with what it currently has — especially if it is being mindful of the future.

With less than four weeks remaining before the draft, we’re analyzing the Saints’ needs at each position. The 11-part series began last week with the offense.

SAFETIES

Saints depth chart

Marcus Williams

Vonn Bell

Chris Banjo

Potential Day 1 (first round) selections

Taylor Rapp, Washington

Johnathan Abram, Mississippi State

Potential Day 2 (rounds 2-3) selections

Deionte Thompson, Alabama

Nasir Adderley, Delaware

Chauncey Gardner-Johnson, Florida

Juan Thornhill, Virginia

Darnell Savage, Maryland

Potential Day 3 (rounds 4-7) selections

Amani Hooker, Iowa

Jaquan Johnson, Miami

Marquise Blair, Utah

Mike Bell, Fresno State

Mike Edwards, Kentucky

Will Harris, Boston College

Marvell Tell, USC

Sheldrick Redwine, Miami

Lukas Denis, Boston College

Malik Gant, Marshall

Khari Willis, Michigan State

Darius West, Kentucky

Saquan Hampton, Rutgers

Andrew Wingard, Wyoming

JoJo McIntosh, Washington

Zedrick Woods, Ole Miss

more on NOLA

K Major · 04-08-2019, 09:34 AM

I'll admit, I haven't really kept up with college safeties last season. I'm sure there is a Derwin James in that bunch?

Side note - Marcus Williams needs to step up in year #3. He was kind of invisible in 2018.

Rugby Saint II · 04-09-2019, 05:53 PM

Originally Posted by K Major

I'll admit, I haven't really kept up with college safeties last season. I'm sure there is a Derwin James in that bunch?

Side note - Marcus Williams needs to step up in year #3. He was kind of invisible in 2018.

I too was somewhat disappointed. I'm hoping it was a sophomore slump and that he will bounce back because he sure was a crowd pleaser his first year. Nonetheless, we still need Good depth because we were lucky with the injuries in the secondary last year.

04-08-2019, 08:53 AM	#1
Threaded by SmashMouth I donated, did you? Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Mandeville, LA Posts: 38,201 Blog Entries: 29 Rating: (0 votes - average) With a pair of young, affordable and reliable players locked in as the starters, the New Orleans Saints have positioned themselves into a sweet spot at safety thanks to some successful recent drafts. Marcus Williams is entering his third season as a pro after the Saints took him in the second round out of Utah in 2017. He picked off six passes, broke up 10 and made 130 tackles in his first two years with the Saints. Next to him, Vonn Bell — another former second-round pick — blossomed in his third season with the Saints. His improvement in coverage allowed him to see the field in a more traditional safety role after being used heavily around the line of scrimmage in 2017. Still, that is where he is strongest: 40 of his career-high 88 tackles came in run support. Williams turns 23 in September, Bell turns 25 in December. Between them, they will count about $3 million against the Saints salary cap in 2019. Veteran Kurt Coleman was jettisoned this offseason to save $4 million in salary cap space, his price not matching his production. Bell’s rise caused Coleman’s role to dip dramatically as the season progressed, evidenced most prominently In New Orleans’ two playoff games when Coleman played just three defensive snaps. The position is entrusted to the youngsters, but that does not mean New Orleans can hold fast with what it currently has — especially if it is being mindful of the future. With less than four weeks remaining before the draft, we’re analyzing the Saints’ needs at each position. The 11-part series began last week with the offense. SAFETIES Saints depth chart Marcus Williams Vonn Bell Chris Banjo Potential Day 1 (first round) selections Taylor Rapp, Washington Johnathan Abram, Mississippi State Potential Day 2 (rounds 2-3) selections Deionte Thompson, Alabama Nasir Adderley, Delaware Chauncey Gardner-Johnson, Florida Juan Thornhill, Virginia Darnell Savage, Maryland Potential Day 3 (rounds 4-7) selections Amani Hooker, Iowa Jaquan Johnson, Miami Marquise Blair, Utah Mike Bell, Fresno State Mike Edwards, Kentucky Will Harris, Boston College Marvell Tell, USC Sheldrick Redwine, Miami Lukas Denis, Boston College Malik Gant, Marshall Khari Willis, Michigan State Darius West, Kentucky Saquan Hampton, Rutgers Andrew Wingard, Wyoming JoJo McIntosh, Washington Zedrick Woods, Ole Miss more on NOLA Attached Thumbnails
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04-08-2019, 09:34 AM	#2
K Major Site Donor 2019 Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Bedford, TX Posts: 24,622 Blog Entries: 3	Re: New Orleans Saints 2019 draft outlook: Safeties I'll admit, I haven't really kept up with college safeties last season. I'm sure there is a Derwin James in that bunch? Side note - Marcus Williams needs to step up in year #3. He was kind of invisible in 2018. Rugby Saint II likes this.

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04-09-2019, 05:53 PM	#3
Rugby Saint II Bounty Money $$$ Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: 5800 Airline Dr. Metairie, LA. Posts: 24,073	Re: New Orleans Saints 2019 draft outlook: Safeties Originally Posted by K Major I'll admit, I haven't really kept up with college safeties last season. I'm sure there is a Derwin James in that bunch? Side note - Marcus Williams needs to step up in year #3. He was kind of invisible in 2018. I too was somewhat disappointed. I'm hoping it was a sophomore slump and that he will bounce back because he sure was a crowd pleaser his first year. Nonetheless, we still need Good depth because we were lucky with the injuries in the secondary last year.