I already selected Corey Liuget for the Saints in my very own Saints Nation mock draft, so it’s no surprise I also selected him picking for the Saints in the Bloguin NFL Mock Draft. Here is my write up on Liuget:
#24 Pick Corey Liuget, DT, Illinois
As the Saints look at their 24th pick, the positions most likely for them to look at are defensive end, defensive tackle, running back and outside linebacker. By far, in my opinion, the best players on the board at the position they need to fill are DT Muhammad Wilkerson, DT Corey Liuget, RB Mikel LeShoure and LB Akeem Ayers. Those four players are who I would wrestle with selecting at this point based on what’s left available…
Based on the Saints’ historical ability under the current regime to land capable running backs outside of their top picks (Pierre Thomas and Chris Ivory were both undrafted rookie free agents), I think that rules out Mikel LeShoure. While the Saints would love to add another back to the mix based on their overwhelming struggles to stay healthy at that position last season, I think and they think they can add someone to the mix that will be valuable later in the draft. While Akeem Ayers does fill the most immediate need, I think the Saints decide he’s too much of a tweener to pick that high. It’s unclear if he’ll play as a defensive end in the NFL, or an outside linebacker. While the Saints need a linebacker, he’d likely fit best in a 3-4 scheme which defensive coordinator Gregg Williams seldom runs. Wilkerson is also best used in a 3-4 system, which leave Liuget as the best fit. Not only is Liuget the best player left on the board, he fills a need, significantly improving depth at the defensive tackle position. On top of that, he’s a high character player that’s very intelligent, and that’s exactly the prototype of player that Sean Payton looks for. Liuget is a perfect fit for the team both in the locker room and on the field. He also has a good explosive first step to help improve the Saints’ front four pass rush which is currently a liability. While the team would love to draft an impact runner, linebacker or pure pass rusher over a defensive tackle in the 1st round – the Saints have proven every time in the Sean Payton era that they will sacrifice need and instead remain committed to staying true to their board. They take the best player available, period, end of story. That player is Corey Liuget. Currently the starters are Sedrick Ellis and Shaun Rogers, so Liuget wouldn’t start, but remember that Rogers is aging and only signed a one year contract, so he is not a long term solution. Liuget, paired with Ellis, represents a long term potential for the Saints to be effective in the trenches defensively and they will improve the team’s ability to consistently get pressure up the middle.
As the Bloguin Mock NFL Draft is completed, I will post the entirety of the round with where each player went.
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