FLOODx's pre-combine Saints mock.

[FLOODx]

Let me start off by saying I think we snag Anthony Spencer in FA.

We trade pick 15 to the Bears for pick 20, their 2013 2nd round pick, and 2014 5th round pick.

Round 1- Kawaan Short [DT; Purdue] 6'3" 310 lbs.
After trading back with the Bears, who jump both the Giants and Steelers to select Lane Johnson, the Saints get some Defensive Line help. The Saints need another playmaker on their D-Line. Kawann Short has the ability to push the pocket and disrupt plays in the backfield. In 2011, Short totaled 54 tackles, 17 tackles for loss, 6.5 sacks, and a forced fumble. This past season Short recorded 42 tackles, 14.5 tackles for loss, six sacks, four PBUs, four blocked kicks, two fumbles recovered and one forced fumble while battling an ankle injury.

Round 2- DJ Swearinger [SS; South Carolina] 5'11" 210 lbs.
Swearinger is an extremely physical DB that possesses good ball skills for the position. He should be an immediate upgrade over Roman Harper in coverage. With his physical style of play he'll also be able to help in run support. We'll finally have a player in our secondary that opposing players fear. Swearinger racked up double digit tackles in four games this past season, which includes games against LSU, Arkansas, and Tennessee. He also finished the season with two interceptions, and returned one for a touchdown versus Arkansas.

Round 3- Chase Thomas [OLB; Stanford] 6'4" 245 lbs.
Time to add some 3-4 personnel to our LB corp via the draft. The saints look to add depth to their front 7 here in the third round. Thomas is an experienced edge rusher, and has a knack for getting the the quarterback. He started his career at defensive end for the Stanford Cardinals, but since then he's made the switch to 3-4 OLB. Not only can he get to the quarterback, but he can also drop back into coverage from time to time and disrupt pass plays. Thomas finished the 2012 season with 7.5 sacks and an interception.

Round 4- Robert Alford [CB; Southeastern] 5'9" 185 lbs.
After having a productive career at a small school, Alford displayed his skills at the senior bowl. He showed his ability to play the pass in both man and zone coverage. He also added a spark to the return game, something the Saints could definitely use. Alford racked up 10 interceptions and twenty pass break ups over his college career.

Round 5- Terron Armstead [OT; Arkansas-Pine Bluff] 6'6" 305 lbs.
You can never have enough depth across the offensive line. Armstead has great size for the OT position. He's also a hell of an athlete with a reported 4.7-4.8 forty yard dash time. He'll most likely have a year to sit behind Strief, and hopefully become a starter at RT in 2014.

Round 6- Kapron Lewis Moore [DL; Notre Dame] 6'4" 306 lbs.
Versatile defensive lineman that can play both the 5 and 3 technique. Lacking ideal length and knee injury history cause him to fall, but the Saints take a chance on him here.

Round 7- Bruce Taylor [ILB; Florida State] 6'2" 250 lbs.
Very instinctive player, but like Lewis Moore, has been plagued by injuries. If he can remain healthy he could be a solid rotational player at ILB in our 3-4 defense.
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NFL- Saints
NBA- Pelicans/LeBron
NCAAF- LSU

[Spartica4Real]

I like it. Alot.
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[Porter22]

Perfect draft, nothing to change here IMO!

[FLOODx]

Thanks for the comments guys
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NFL- Saints
NBA- Pelicans/LeBron
NCAAF- LSU

[whodatworm23]

Adding another defensive lineman is high on the list in my opinion. In this draft, defensive tackle is the deepest position so the likelyhood of the Saints taking that player in round one is extremly high.

Why is another D-lineman needed?

Bunkley will be the NT, I think we all understand that but even in a 34 (especially in a 1 gap) the nose tackle these days plays at best 30-34% of the defensive snaps because of the amount of time defensives are in nickel and dime coverages. Hearing this, people are quick to say, "well worm, if that's the case shouldent we add another DB instead"? Well that depends on what your DC is trying to install. Rob Ryan wants to install a pressure defense so to me the Lineman is more important.

In passing situations, Bunkley will come off the field and Hicks will kick inside to NT to get a more pressure push up the middle. Jordan will maintain his spot on the right side but the LE position needs another Pass rusher. Even if were running a 2 man front, it would be Jordan and Hicks but you need a 3rd tackle in the rotation to keep guys fresh as well as preparing for injury. Remember, these are big boys who need to rotate to stay fresh. A 3rd DT/DE will play just as many defensive snaps as Hicks and likley more or the same as Bunkley. He may not play the 1st snap but he's a starter none the less.

Now back to your mock...

I love Short, I think he'd be a great player for our 3rd end in the rotation. He also possesses versality to play either DE spot and even NT in passing situations.

I really don't know when the saints will select or who they will select but for the reasons I've stated above, it's my opinion that our 1st pick in 2013 draft will be a versatile stout 34 DE/DT.
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[FLOODx]

I completely agree. I didn't want to go that in depth on the explanation of the pick since I had to do the other rounds lol. Short is very disruptive.. I like him better than Sheldon Richardson. I think he's stronger and much more stout against the run.
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Ramster on the sig
NFL- Saints
NBA- Pelicans/LeBron
NCAAF- LSU

[whodatworm23]

The only exception to this in my opinion is drafting a guy like BYU's Ezekiel Ansah if he's available. Ansah has the athletic ability and skill set to play OLB in Ryans scheme while also bring big and strong enough to come down as a LE when that 3rd DE is needed.

This would likley be the best case sceniero for the saints. They get the best of both worlds In Ansah and that is why he is my #1 prospect for the saints.
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zk958n5n66o

[FLOODx]

[whodatworm23]

[whodatworm23]

I remember another guy that was a great physical specimen but people said that he was to raw, to much of a project...

Then Jimmy Graham was a Pro bowler in his 2nd season!

You can't teach a guy to get physical tools, he's born with that but u can mold it.
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zk958n5n66o

[krewebrees]

I've already expressed how I feel about drafting a DL in the 1st round. Ryan doesn't run 3-3 nickels very often. He runs either 2-4 1-5 or 0-6 most of the time. I completely understand rotating linemen to keep them fresh but I'm expecting us to still have Buckley and Tom Johnson in my opinion two good rotational linemen. And Romeos if he can get healthy (he may be an outside linebacker though).

I am expecting us to draft another DL just not in the first or second (if we get one) rounds. I know that Pete Carroll got Irvin as a rotational player at 15 last year but I just think we could really use the pick somewhere else.

[FLOODx]

[thesolution]

I'm not really show I agree with you WDW23. I kinda think Ryan scheme is built on CB. Look at what the Cowboys did in the off season last year. They draft Claiborne and sign Carr. I can see us signing Victor Butler, Ernie Sims, Terrence Knighton and drafting either Jonathan Banks or Kenny Vaccaro
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[FLOODx]

[whodatworm23]