It’s been long, it’s been wordy, and it’s not done just yet folks. I have a few more players I want to go over before I consider this bit wrapped up, and while not all of them are prospects that everyone will like, they are all players who the Saints could/should look at for the 27th overall pick. Bradley Roby, Ryan Shazier, Marqise Lee, Cj Mosley, and Kyle Fuller all deserve a look. As I have mentioned I have three players that I would prefer the saints to take with the number 27 pick (Shazier, Cooks, and Roby) and it just so happens that two of them have been saved for the end. The one change that I am going to make to list is that either Roby or Fuller work for me if the Saints feel that they absolutely must fill corner in the first round.
Marqise Lee, Wr, USC: As was already covered with Cooks, OBJ, and Benjamin, the Saints have one true weakness on their offense right now and that is that they do not have a true weapon at the receiver position. Kenny stills is a dangerous player, but his true potential will be unlocked in the slot where he can be sent deep occasionally, but what the Saints really need is someone who can take the top off the defense and force opponents to shift attention to them at all times. In that regard Lee is probably the third best player the Saints may have a legitimate shot at to land. He is also a proven weapon as a kick returner which the saints are in desperate need of which raises his value further. He didn’t light the world on fire with his 40 time, but the game film shows a guy who is blazing fast when the lights are on and who can make spectacular explosive plays with great frequency. I would still take Cooks and probably OBJ over him, but Lee is a phenomenally explosive player who could give the saints offense the kind of punch it hasn’t had since Devery Henderson was in his prime.
Cj Mosley, ILB, Alabama: Mosley possesses elite athleticism and the kind of consistent college production that could make him a top-ten pick. However, Mosley comes from an Alabama team that has a reputation for driving its players into the ground and his injury history may cause him to drop far enough for him to find a new home in the WhoDat nation. Mosley could make a very nice rotational piece alongside Lofton and Hawthorne who would eventually take a position as a starter over one of them. (probably Hawthorne) When most scouts look at Mosley there are two things about him that stand out above all others; he is known for being an extremely smart player with great football IQ, and his enormous tackles numbers reflect his second-to-none instincts. Mosley is also a very proficient cover man for a linebacker and has been compared favorably to Urlacher by some scouts…um yes please? If he could stay healthy Mosley could potentially be a piece that allows the Saints defense to go from all time turnaround…to all time great period.
Bradley Roby, CB, Ohio State: With the signing of Champ Bailey (and the assumption that he is mostly healthy) the Saints no longer have any need to draft a player who will start as the second corner day one. (I actually didn’t ever think that was the case, but some fans have far less confidence in our corner depth than I do) What makes Roby an intriguing prospect who might be worth a first round pick is his incredible measurable and aggressive style for attacking the ball. In a vacuum, I wouldn’t even have him in the first round, however with Keenan Lewis on the other side to shutdown the other teams number one receivers a guy who is going to attack the ball is a great fit for the number two corner of the future. He has some off the field concerns, but the Saints have a great locker room and with him not needing to start right away and having a living legend at the position like Bailey there to coach him up he could be a steal in a couple of years. (some fans may think of P-rob when they hear about his 4.39 speed, but lets remember that he actually had a great rookie year before the curse of Spags turned him into the double move disaster we have seen since.)
Kyle Fuller, CB, Virginia Tech: Fuller is the other half of the conundrum represented by Roby. Where Roby is a burner with great ball skills and tremendous speed, Fuller is a physical press cover corner who likes to ‘get in there’ and get physical with players. His most notable performance last year was his play against Alabama receiver Amari Cooper .(baby Julio here folks) Fuller is probably more of a second round pick than a first, but if the Saints decide that it is a position they absolutely must fill this guy could be their choice. His physical style matches up well with what Rob Ryan likes to do, and with one of the greatest tacklers at his position in league history to mentor him he could be a tantalizing option for the Saints at the bottom of the first. (I would call him a lock if he were a safety because as we all know “Rob Ryan wants ALL the f*@3kin safeties folks”)
Ryan Shazier: I am actually going to post Shaziers analysis later with its own post because he is in my opinion the most intriguing prospect in this draft and also requires the most complex case to be made for why I think he is probably the best value the team could get in the 2014 draft.
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