Did Sean Payton Tip The Saints Draft Hand This Week?
The New Orleans Saints will fall just outside of the Top Ten draft picks in this year's NFL Draft. Not too far out though, since they'll be picking at 11th in the First Round. But this slot has become slightly problematic in the eyes of "draft experts".
I say that only because it seems to be a spot that NONE of them can agree on.
As you sift through multiple early mock drafts online, you see the Saints taking everything from a running back to offensive guard in the First Round. From where I'm sitting, running backs and offensive lineman shouldn't even make it onto the Saints draft considerations until the 5th or 6th round.
Defensive is the name of the game for the Saints in this year's draft, at least from my seats. But what does Sean Payton think? Since he's the guy pulling the trigger. Is he ACTUALLY considering a running back at #11? Here's what he had to say this week, according to the Louisiana Radio Network:
"Saints head coach Sean Payton appeared on Good Morning Football on the NFL Network and said New Orleans has to improve on defense. Payton added that they have to get a couple of pressure players in the draft and he said the draft is strong at safety, cornerback and running back."
OK, so he did say running back. But realistically, you can get a great local kid late if you focus on Elijah McGuire from ULL. But safety and corner back should be the only positions the team looks at in the first three rounds, unless a highly rated pass rusher falls to them in a no-brainer spot.
I know the Saints have had an aversion to LSU players in the past, but they really need to consider Tre'Davious White at #11, unless a monster like Jamal Adams somehow slips to them. Hell, maybe trade up into the Top 5 to get Adams if you really want a right-now-game-changer.
We've got a few months, and NFL Combine, and 9,835 more mock drafts to go before we really find out what Payton and company will do.