New Orleans Saints Forecast
-------------------------------------------------------------------
New Orleans Saints(3-13)
-------------------------------------------------------------------
(2) D'Brickashaw Ferguson, OT. Virginia
(34) Nick Mangold, C. Ohio State
-------------------------------------------------------------------
The Saints are getting better and better by the second. Drew Brees offers the franchise an efficient, decision-maker at quarterback. Bryan Scott, acquired from Atlanta, gives them a viable option to bolster the secondary. Getting rid of Wayne Gandy tells the world that D'Brickashaw Ferguson will be the Saints' franchise left tackle come draft day. The loss of LeCharles Bentley also places need on the offensive front. Nick Mangold will be mighty tempting at #34. Defensively, the team needs linebackers above all. Scott Fujita and Colby Bockwoldt are simply not NFL-caliber startin offensive linebackers. On the defensive front, a tackle to play opposite the disappointing Johnathan Sullivan would give the Saints an upgrade over the likes of Brian Young and Willie Whitehead.
(2) D'Brickashaw Ferguson, OT. Virginia
Wayne Gandy beig traded away means that the Saints are looking for a left tackle. With the second pick in the draft, they will be getting the right price to draft the likes of D'Brickashaw Ferguson. Brick is the best tackle prospect since Orlando Pace. His footwork is immaculate. His technique elsewhere is superb. As a pass blocker, he is ready to take on the Dwight Freeney's and Jason Taylor's of the world tomorrow. Ferguson could stand to add some weight to his 6'6"/312 frame, but that will come with time. As he adds weight and strength, Brick will become progressively more dominant in the run game. With book ends of Jammal Brown and D'Brickashaw Ferguson, the Saints are letting their fans know that they are willing to fix their franchise from up front.
(34) Nick Mangold, C. Ohio State
LeCharles Bentley was lost to free agency, and his prensence will be missed in New Orleans even more than it will be welcomed in Cleveland. Bentley was a dominating, Pro-Bowl caliber force inside. Among the top center prospects in the draft, Nick Mangold is the only one with a first-round grade. Should Mangold slip past the Jets at 29 and the Steelers at 32, he would be a difficult player to pass up at #34, especially considering the Saints third round pick is in the hands of the Houston Texans. Drafting D'Brickashaw Ferguson with the #2 pick will take pressure off whomever is playing in the middle this year, so starting a rookie will be no concern. Grabbing two offensive lineman would leave some gaping holes on the other side of the ball, but Mangold is just too legitimate a center prospect to pass on here.
(*) Demeco Ryans, OLB. Alabama
The Saints most glaring needs may well be on defense. AJ Hawk is the #1 defensive player on their draft board. If they are able to move from the #2 pick, to either #3 or #4, then Hawk will be their guy. If Demeco Ryans is available in the second round, he will be very tough to pass up. Ryans, being an SEC standout, is surely in the forefront of many a Saints fan. At 6'1"/236, he has the bulk to take an NFL-caliber beating. His 4.62 is not elite, but his on-field production is. He can hawk the ball and lay the lumber. A guy slipping purely due to his poor timed speed, Ryans make an excellent addition to a dysfuctional defense.
New Orleans Saints(3-13)
-------------------------------------------------------------------
(2) D'Brickashaw Ferguson, OT. Virginia
(34) Nick Mangold, C. Ohio State
-------------------------------------------------------------------
The Saints are getting better and better by the second. Drew Brees offers the franchise an efficient, decision-maker at quarterback. Bryan Scott, acquired from Atlanta, gives them a viable option to bolster the secondary. Getting rid of Wayne Gandy tells the world that D'Brickashaw Ferguson will be the Saints' franchise left tackle come draft day. The loss of LeCharles Bentley also places need on the offensive front. Nick Mangold will be mighty tempting at #34. Defensively, the team needs linebackers above all. Scott Fujita and Colby Bockwoldt are simply not NFL-caliber startin offensive linebackers. On the defensive front, a tackle to play opposite the disappointing Johnathan Sullivan would give the Saints an upgrade over the likes of Brian Young and Willie Whitehead.
D'Brickashaw Ferguson opposite Jammal Brown is scary
(2) D'Brickashaw Ferguson, OT. Virginia
Wayne Gandy beig traded away means that the Saints are looking for a left tackle. With the second pick in the draft, they will be getting the right price to draft the likes of D'Brickashaw Ferguson. Brick is the best tackle prospect since Orlando Pace. His footwork is immaculate. His technique elsewhere is superb. As a pass blocker, he is ready to take on the Dwight Freeney's and Jason Taylor's of the world tomorrow. Ferguson could stand to add some weight to his 6'6"/312 frame, but that will come with time. As he adds weight and strength, Brick will become progressively more dominant in the run game. With book ends of Jammal Brown and D'Brickashaw Ferguson, the Saints are letting their fans know that they are willing to fix their franchise from up front.
The loss of LeCharles Bentley will have the Saints
biting on Nick Mangold in the early second round
(34) Nick Mangold, C. Ohio State
LeCharles Bentley was lost to free agency, and his prensence will be missed in New Orleans even more than it will be welcomed in Cleveland. Bentley was a dominating, Pro-Bowl caliber force inside. Among the top center prospects in the draft, Nick Mangold is the only one with a first-round grade. Should Mangold slip past the Jets at 29 and the Steelers at 32, he would be a difficult player to pass up at #34, especially considering the Saints third round pick is in the hands of the Houston Texans. Drafting D'Brickashaw Ferguson with the #2 pick will take pressure off whomever is playing in the middle this year, so starting a rookie will be no concern. Grabbing two offensive lineman would leave some gaping holes on the other side of the ball, but Mangold is just too legitimate a center prospect to pass on here.
(*) Demeco Ryans, OLB. Alabama
The Saints most glaring needs may well be on defense. AJ Hawk is the #1 defensive player on their draft board. If they are able to move from the #2 pick, to either #3 or #4, then Hawk will be their guy. If Demeco Ryans is available in the second round, he will be very tough to pass up. Ryans, being an SEC standout, is surely in the forefront of many a Saints fan. At 6'1"/236, he has the bulk to take an NFL-caliber beating. His 4.62 is not elite, but his on-field production is. He can hawk the ball and lay the lumber. A guy slipping purely due to his poor timed speed, Ryans make an excellent addition to a dysfuctional defense.