The NFL Draft - On The Clock, New Orleans Saints
New Orleans Saints
Pick: #11
Top Needs: DT, OG, OLB, ILB, WR
Top Targets: Shaq Lawson, A'Shawn Robinson, Sheldon Rankins, Noah Spence, Reggie Ragland, Laquon Treadwell
Off The Board:
PickTeamPlayer, POSSchoolComments1Tennessee TitansLaremy Tunsil, OTOle MissA shut down corner to protect franchise QB Marcus Mariota. 2Cleveland BrownsJared Goff, QBCaliforniaThe Browns finally find an answer to stop the QB merry go-round of the last 20 years.3San Diego ChargersJalen Ramsey, DBFlorida StateWhether he plays cornerback or safety, the Chargers get one of the best players in the draft.4Dallas CowboysJoey Bosa, DL Ohio StateThe Cowboys shore up their defensive line, and find QB, LB and DB help later in the draft. 5Jacksonville Jaguars Vernon Hargreaves, CBFloridaThe Jaguars get a shutdown corner in the first round, find solutions in the front seven in free agency and the rest of the draft.6Baltimore RavensMyles Jack, SS/LBUCLAThe Ravens leap to draft an elite defensive talent, and possibly draft a future star.7San Francisco 49ersCarson Wentz, QBNorth Dakota StateKap forces the teams hand and they take a potential future starting QB to truly start a new era.8Miami DolphinsMackensie Alexander, CB ClemsonMiami plugs its biggest hole, but with a player who does have some questions.9Tampa Bay BuccaneersDeForest Buckner, DLOregonBuckner could easily go earlier, but he's too talented to fall any farther than this.10New York GiantsEzekiel Elliott, RBOhio StateNew York gets an immediate boost with Zeke Elliott, getting new HC Ben McAdoo a huge weapon.11Chicago BearsRonnie Stanley, OTNotre DameChicago still needs help on defense but gets a plug-and-play starter at tackle to help stabilize the offense.12New Orleans Saints???
With a dependable running game behind Mark Ingram, a shifty and emerging receiver in Brandin Cooks and Drew Brees not quite done just yet, the team still is a solid threat every week on offense. That said, they could look to pair Cooks up with a buddy, and we are definitely getting into Laquon Treadwell territory here. The release of Marques Colston doesn't make this a need, Colston hasn't been much of a contributor recently anyway. Still, I think the team can grab a receiver as late as the 3rd or 4th round and be okay, and their attention and draft capital should be spent on the other side of the ball.
The team (which runs a 4-3 base defense) needs help on the defensive line and at inside and outside linebacker. The defense was wretched (31st in passing, rushing and total defensive yards given up), and it needs to get stout and tough. While I think they could find a great player in Reggie Ragland at ILB, I think instead they look to shore up the defensive line.
They could look to put a guy on the edge as a rusher, like a Shaq Lawson, Kevin Dodd or Noah Spence, but a better solution for their leaky defense, in my mind, is clogging up the middle. A serious defensive tackle who can push the blocker backfield and force runners to look somewhere else. There are a few good defensive tackles out there in A'Shawn Robinson and Sheldon Rankins.
If you're the Saints, what do you do?
THE PICK: A'Shawn Robinson, DT, Alabama
Our first member of the Crimson Tide gets taken to go nearby and clog up the middle for the Saints. Robinson is fierce, and a prototypical 4-3 DT. He'll provide pressure up the middle but also hold blockers so the edge guys can free up to get closer to the QB. He'll be strong against the run and comes from a strong, professional program that can add stability where it's needed.
Defensive tackles aren't often sexy picks but can be major solutions, and stopping the run is about the most important thing a defense can do to get better in a hurry. A'Shawn Robinson is the pick here.
Next up, the Philadelphia Eagles.