New Orleans Saints Team Mock Draft

The Following New Orleans Saints Team Mock Draft comes from Keith Null of Whodatdish.com. For explanations of each pick as well as a breakdown of needs and a quick look at the roster follow that link. I’m going to talk about my personal thoughts for each pick as value as someone who follows the draft.

1st Round Martez Wilson

Wilson is an intriguing prospect because of his versatility and upside. The Saints have Jonathan Vilma currently playing the middle so by drafting Wilson they will have to decide whether or not they want to move Vilma or Wilson to the outside. Wilson is a talented pass rusher as a linebacker, and was one of the top Defensive end recruits in the country coming out of high school. He also set the record for the for 40 yard dash as a linebacker at the combine. Wilson is a prospect that some people think can be a better pro player than he was a college player and is a player I think has launched himself into the discussion of the middle to end of the first round, in large part because he has upside as a pass rusher and may even play outside in the 3-4. I like the pick.

Round 2 Adrian Clayborn DE Iowa

Null mentions my primary concern with this pick and that is that he’s considered a first round talent by teams and probably won’t be available towards the back end of the second round. Let’s assume the Saints want to address the DL position in the second round who are more viable candidates? I think Allen Bailey is more likely. I think probably though the best direction will have to be DT because of how many DE could come off the board in the first round. Pernell Mcphee might be an option at end.

At defensive tackle there could be a few possibilities that could be attractive. The first is the super talented Marvin Austin our of North Carolina who some think of as a top 10 talent, and even with his year long suspension could be a player who ended in round one. But teams are just as worried about his inconsistent motor as they are his suspension.

Jarvis Jenkins and Drake Nevis are two other options are think are the most viable and could be attractive options in the second round.  Nevis would be a local player coming out of LSU and I think a good option to pair with Sedrick Ellis.

Round 3 TE Rob Housler, Florida Atlantic

No problem with the pick, or the value of the player really. Thought I would consider taking a running back, the position I think that the best value might be readily available in round three if I’m the Saints who were really looking for running back help last year (even though that was large part because of injuries). There are a lot of talented backs who could still be available in round three like Kendall Hunter, Daniel Thomas, or Shane Vereen.  Not a problem with the Housler pick as far as availability because of value is concerned.

Round 3 pick 88: Marvin Austin, DT, North Carolina

Spoke to soon. They have another pick in the third round where they could consider grabbing a running back. I dont’ think Marvin Austin will be available at this point (though it’s possible both Carlos Dunlap and Michael Johnson fell because of the label of having inconsistent hustle). Or at this point if they go DT in the early part of the draft could consider DE here like Brandon Bair, Markus White, Greg Romerus, Pierre Allen of Nebraska.

Roy Helu Nebraska

Another prospect I think has a good chance of going much  earlier in the draft. But I’m not ruling out his availability here. I think other RB I like late that could be available are players like Clemson’s Jamie Harper and Taiwan Jones.

all in all if the Saints draft did turn out like the one proposed at whodatdish.com I think it’d be great value and a very solid draft. I think it’s tough to get that good value in all rounds, but not impossible.

One other Saints note: Draftinsider.net write that scouts have said that  “Smart money” is on the Saints drafting Muhammed Wilkerson if he’s available in the first round