The 2024 NFL draft, which usually coincides with the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival, is pivotal to the team moving forward this upcoming season.
Mickey Loomis’s salary cap strategy has led only to mediocrity and handcuffed the Saints in free agency.
The Draft, despite all the hoopla and money and analysis that goes into it, in reality, is a big crap shoot.
To clarify this stipulation just look at the records of all the smart guys in the scouting departments and front offices and the results of the last ten years of quarterback drafts.
Out of 16 quarterbacks picked in the top 5 picks since 2013, 6 can be considered busts, so in the most scrutinized high-profile position, the EXPERTS whiff—a lot.
Over 33 % of QBs chosen in the first round in the last ten years were busts. 4 out of 5 first-round QB picks in 2021 have been traded, and all for third-day picks, 4th through 7th round picks.
This brings me to my contention that the conventional draft wisdom of picking the best player available sounds good but isn’t.
If you need to know who the best player is, then how can you choose the best player available?
The Saints need to draft for need. That means the Offensive Line.
In recent years, the Saints have made many bad first-round decisions, and with no 2, 3, or 4 picks this year, the first two picks count more than usual.
By re-upping Derek Carr and adding bargain basement free agents the Saints are deluding themselves into thinking they can contend with what they have with a few tweaks.
WHO, THEN?
Offensive tackle is the ticket. It would help if you had depth and you don’t need superstars. It would help if you had solid players in every position. The Saints barely have this at OL. And one injury destroys the situation. The Saints have drafted poorly at the position in recent years.
MY CHOICES
Oli Fashanu, 6’6″, 312 OT- Penn State is the guy. If he’s gone, Amarius Sims, 6’7 ” 349- Georgia, or Talese Fuaga- Oregon State
I am sticking to the second round, another OT, in my opinion; this is an excellent draft for OT.
Patrick Paul-Houston, Brandon Coleman TCU, and Roger Rosengarten Washington are other prime 2nd round candidates for the Saints at OT.
With four # 5 picks, two # 6 picks, and a 7th, there are some other OTs that they can go to.
Walter Rouse-Oklahoma, T Ethan Driskell-Marshall, Frank Crumby- Wyoming.
Load up on Offensive line talent.
WHAT ELSE
The Saints could use a WR, too.
Later-round prospects are Taj Washington-USC, Luke McCaffery-Rice, Anthony Gould, Oregon State, and Jha’Quan Jackson -Tulane.
Cornerback in late rounds Kalen King-Penn State is my sleeper. Other CBs are Andru Philips-Kentucky, Jarran Jones, Florida State,
Running backs to look for are Isaac Guerendo, Louisville, who has outstanding speed at 6′ 221. Dylan Laube- New Hampshire, and another sleeper, Kimani Vidal, 5’7″ 213, with 4.45 speed in the 40. And in the late rounds, take a chance on Frank Gore Jr of Southern Mississippi
The Draft is fun if you’re a fan, but you could pick names from a hat.
The Saint has been “cute” in past drafts. Marcus Davenport and Payton Turner come right to mind. Saints scouting hierarchy outsmarting themselves.
Go with consensus players you can use; the Saints don’t need 45 DE who are always hurt. They signed Chase Young in free agency. He was pre-injured.
Loomis likes to trade up in the Draft. Please don’t!!!
This leads to us losing assets. Plus, it also results many times in a crappy player.
I’m not against trading down and getting a few higher draft picks. There are a lot of staring OT talent in this Draft.
Saints need to get this right.
