NFL Draft 2007
Here we go, the MUCH anticipated New Orleans Saints draft preview for 2007! What a year it was for our beloved Saints! Never before has a Saints team made it to the doorstep of the most hallowed game in all of sportsdom, only to have the door slammed in their face.
But there's a lot of be proud of and more work to be done if they want to get back to the level they were last year.
Let me say, for the draft this weekend, the Saints pick #27 in Round 1. That's pretty low and it's so hard to predict who they'll pick at that spot since so much can happen in front of them.
I will say they have done enough in the off season that gives them the luxury of picking the BEST PLAYER AVAILABLE, instead of being locked into picking for a need position. But I have a hunch as to who is going to fall to them at #27, but we'll get to that in a bit.
So let's review off season transactions for our Saints:
2/10 Scott Shanle LB re-signed, four-year contract
2/22 Charles Grant DE Designated franchise player
2/27 Hollis Thomas DT re-signed, agreed to terms, Four-year contract
3/1 Joe Horn WR cut
3/1 Ernie Conwell TE cut
3/1 Billy Miller TE re-signed, One-year contract
3/3 Antwan Lake DT re-signed/unrestricted free agent, Two-year contract
3/3 Jon Stinchcomb T signed/unrestricted free agent, two-year contract
3/6 Brian Simmons LB signed/unrestricted free agent, Three-year contract
3/7 Eric Johnson TE signed/unrestricted free agent, one-year contract
3/14 Kevin Kaesviharn S signed/unrestricted free agent, Four-year contract
3/26 Terrance Copper WR re-signed
4/4 Olindo Mare K traded, for 6th round draft pick
4/5 John Carney K cut
4/12 David Patten WR signed, One-year contract
4/19 Jason David CB signed/offer sheet, Four-year contract
I think they did an excellent job this offseason. Mainly because they re-signed some key players from last season in Scott Shanle, Hollis Thomas, Terrance Copper and locked up Charles Grant (even if he is miffed about being franchised). These moves were huge.
Some comments on our free agents:
LB Brian Simmons (from Bengals) - Is going to rock for us because he's the thumper Middle Linebacker and playmaker we need. He many not be long term solution for this position since he's 32 but he is a good starter and an upgrade at that position on this team. This frees up Mark Simoneau to be excellent depth at linebacker, being that he can play all 3 positions.
TE Eric Johnson (from 49ers) - Fast, athletic and big pass catching tight end that Drew Brees will use as yet another weapon for this offense. Big part to our offense that has been missing in this offense and should be a great addition if he can stay healthy.
S Kevin Kaesviharn (from Bengals) - Smart, hard hitting free safety that will push Josh Bullocks for the starting spot at the position. This guy makes plays. Payton wants playmakers in the secondary and this guy pulled in 6 ints last season in Cincy!
WR David Patten (from Redskins) - Quick and sure handed split end that has 3 super bowl rings. This guy is a leader and fantastic locker room presence that should occupy Joe Horn's role as experienced teacher for our young crop of WRs. But don't look for him to start, my guess is they want to draft a new #2 receiver to line up opposite of Marques Colston.
CB Jason David (from Colts) - Undersized and feisty, this 3 year starter for the Colts now has a super bowl ring and has been nothing but productive for his former team. Nice pickup if the Colts don't match the offer sheet. Will end up starting at CB.
2007 Draft Needs (projected round):
Wide Receiver (Early Rounds)
Cornerback (Early Rounds)
Defensive Tackle (Early/Mid Rounds)
Tight End (Mid/Late Rounds)
Linebacker (Mid/Late Rounds)
Quarterback (Mid/Late Rounds)
Guard (Mid/Late Rounds)
Defensive End (Mid/Late Rounds)
And finally, my prediction:
With the 27th pick in the 2007 NFL Draft, the New Orleans Saints select...
Dwayne Bowe, Wide Receiver, LSU
posted by fuel52 at 12:45 PM
11 Comments:
Take off the purple and gold glasses my friend.
Bowe is a very good reciever but there are several other WR's who are much better than him who will still be around at #27. There are also several very good DB's in this draft and the world know's we need to fill that more than we need antoher reciever. It has also gotten much airtime on local sports talk staions that Coach Peyton is still not happy with the teams run stopping ability so don't be suprised if they pull the trigger on a linebacker or interior d-lineman. Hollis Thomas is great in the middle but he is aging and when he is out it leaves a huge hole in the middle, they need someone who can step in when he steps out.
So, what I am saying is that your assessment that they will take the best player that is available is correct with 2 qualifications
1. they will take the best DEFENSIVE player available.
2. LSU is not the minor league affiliate of the New Orleans Saints
Carney was cut? this is a sad day in the Wallace house. Kristi will be devastated when she finds out.
Oh, so I discredit myself cause I choose an LSU player that definately would be the best player available if he should slip to #27 AND still fill a need for this team?
I think not...
People who know me also know that I am not by any means an LSU homer when it comes to the Saints.
My friend, you will see this Saturday that the top 5 cornerbacks in this year's draft will not make it to #27, if so, by all means they should select.
You will not see the Saints reach for a need though.
If Dwayne Bowe slips to #27, watch him get gobbled up.
I'm on the opposite end...
I don't think Bowe will be around at 27...
You miss the point, bowe will not be the best reciever available when pick #27 comes around and the saints will be looking to solidify a still "ify" defense. I'm glad to here you are not a homer. Unfortunately we've never met so I judged you unfairly. My apologies kind sir.
I look forward to this weeks and Saturday's activities. I think we can all agree that we only want what's best for the saints. I sure do like this winning thing much better the way things used to be.
Man, you could not have said it any better, this winning thing is SO nice, I could get used to it.
News flash: Colts today (4/26) decided not to match the offer sheet the Saints extended to Jason David, we've got a new starting cornerback.
Best Player Available here we come!
I've heard rumours (from Britain, apparently) that the Saints are interested in trading Deuce McA. to potentially move up in the draft...any legitimacy to this?
Yeah, I think their gonna trade him to the Frankfurt Galaxy (NFLE) for quarter back phenom J.T O'Sullivan.
Deuce isn't going anywhere. In fact, I would look for him to get more touches (20-30) per game this season and look for some designed outside runs being called for D-Mac.
Who would they get to replace him and if they did get rid of him that would leave reggie as the sole RB. Our offense is much more effective if we line up deuce in the back and move reggie around. That causes fits for opposing defenses. In other words, maybe the source out of Britain was refering to a player from the "Shell Shockers" being brought over to play for Manchester United .
Congrats to Charles Grant who finally got the money he needs to feed his family...
Yeah Cabs I agree, lets all say a little thank you to the Saints organizatin for stepping up and getting those Grant kids fed.
As the man said, Deuce ain't going NOWHERE. On 2 fronts. 1 - Similar to what the man said, out offense is much more effective with both Reg and Deuce in there and 2 - There's really no reason for this team to trade up, we don't have any GLARING needs right now.
You'll see them stand pat at 27 or if a deal is done, it'll be to trade back for more pics, if anything.
I'm thinking now, WR Bowe (if he's there), TE Olsen, WR Jarrett or DT Harrell.
Yahoo also thinks we'll get Dwayne Bowe, but SI thinks we'll get Chris Houston DB-Arkansas.
Any plans for draft day? Goin to the dome? Airline? Home?
I also noticed (that you didn't mention) that the Saints picked up LB (LSU Alum) Trev Faulk. I thought it was a mistake for Faulk to leave LSU early...and it turned out to be because who knows where he's been playing, and apparently he's such a big acquisition that it didn't even make the news...
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