Brian Bauer (@SaintBrian9)
With just six draft picks as Thursday night began, it’s hard to believe a team could wind up creating so much controversy with such a small window. Then again, this is the Saints we’re talking about; if there’s a franchise capable of uplifting and then infuriating its fan base in a 24 hour period, these are the guys for the job. Looking at the draft from top to bottom, it’s also as if GM Mickey Loomis was told to be fundamentally sound with their first three picks, and then to go with his gut the rest of the way … and as we’ve covered before, drafts aren’t exactly Loomis’ strong point. Here’s our thoughts, pick by pick, at the guys the Saints took over the three day period (and we’ll keep our takes short, because this is a far from the first takes you’ve read on the subject!)
Sheldon Rankins, DT, Louisville
Rankins was the guy I was initially “talked into” by so many mocks that had us taking him, but I have to admit, when the Saints were finally on the board, I was openly rooting for this move. At 6-1, 304 lbs Rankins is an immediate starter and has the potential to draw Stephone Anthony level praise playing next to Nick Fairley. He will fill the role John Jenkins has never quite lived up to, and the one they’ve strived to fill with guys like Broderick Bunkley. Love it.
MP
By the time the Saints were on (around 4 am my time) I kept on staring to the screen, having a 1 minute delay and not wanting to read it on twitter; I was hoping for a trade alert. There were so many good players on the board. But in the end if you look at who they took, they took an absolute STUD, very safe pick and a guy who would go Top 5 in a not so heavy loaded DT class. I loved it. No pass rusher, but no question marks either. THAT is the Saints MO since 2015. Sadly the trading up is also their MO, but more on that later.
Micheal Thomas, WR, Ohio State
Marijn Pessers (@Monedula_)
Another very good pick. I wished they had gone Guard there but I hear Thomas was their #1 WR on the board. After you have a run on WRs, a lot of teams reaching in fear of missing out you get then a drop off in WRs picked because nobody wants to reach even more. The Saints were there at the right moment to take a great value pick, a guy that can contribute and I am looking to draft in Fantasy.
BB
I liked this one as well Marijn, although I have to say it flies in the face of your “Saints like speedy guys” trend! Thomas is CLEARLY an attempt to replace Colston, considering his size and his game. The only NON Colston like thing here is one to watch – Thomas’ had some issues with drops at Ohio State … nothing gets under Sean Payton’s skin like a beautiful Brees rainbow with a clean drop on the other end. I think he’ll fit right in though, and I could see him putting up decent numbers as early as this year.
Vonn Bell, S, Ohio State
BB
This might have been my favorite selection when you consider Rankins was the safe pick. Bell was mocked in some drafts at the end of the first, and immediately fills a position of need on the Saints. He has good hands, good closing speed and plays smart. I think he’s exactly the complement New Orleans needs in that secondary.
MP
The Saints did the popular thing and got a Vonn 🙂 I did not know about him, but what you write and what I hear I definitely like him. He is the 3rd Safety picked after about 40 picks that is not a safety. So even more a value pick. About the trading up, I agree with that in principle, there are advantages. I have written a post about that.
David Onyemata, DE, Manitoba (Canada)
MP
Trading up again… I do not enjoy that in general, but this guy… I think this guy s going to be a pro-bowler. He has the likability of a panda, his joyful face will be great to see when he is laughing after he sacks the QB. He is a project player… Because this guy has had to come out of Nigeria via Canada to be able to get to the draft. But man, I believe he is totally gifted in any way. Get him up to speed with the NFL and in 1 year you have Jordan, Rankins and him starting, accompanied by Kikaha on the side. 3 sacks a game minimum. No time for QBs to throw and 4 picks a game… A guy can dream, right?
BB
I like your enthusiasm and I hope you’re right (still think there’s a chance you could be) but man, this is where Saints Nation collectively went kablooey on Saturday. In many long range blogs mocks, Saints had drafted a guard by now and the fact that they hadn’t was troubling. That they then TRADED UP (again!) and then took a guy none of us had heard of, with some decent names at guard still sitting there was one thing … when it came with a name player in Andrew Billings still sitting there … well, I could practically hear Loomis chuckling amidst the rising groans/shouts of Saints fans. Look, it’s certainly a fans take, no doubt, but the guy has all the measurables. Fairley won’t be here long, and Jenkins is a placeholder. If in 2 years, it’s Onyemata lining up next to Rankins and just causing havoc, it’s brilliant. If he’s just a guy, it’s a fourth round pick. That’s right around when I’m ok taking gambles.
Daniel Lasco, RB, Cal
BB
Someone locked Mickey Loomis in a bathroom later on for a couple of rounds (apparently) and the Saints did NOT trade up the rest of the day. That left them with just a 7th rounder, one that might have provided the second biggest headache of the draft for Saints fans, as New Orleans ignored a couple of very capable offensive lineman that fell (more on those in a bit) and instead took the position they might be the most solid at, running back (ok, maybe most solid at QB but you get the idea). Lasco becomes the Saints SEVENTH running back, a move that seems to be as much a shot in the dark as it is a head scratcher. While I don’t love the move, bear with me for a second. Lasco is fast, with good hands, and played in a pro style offense. He could fit in with the Saints special teams rather well, but let’s not assume anything here. Of the Saints current running backs, I would say 3 are mortal locks to make the team (Ingram, Spiller, Hightower) and the others … I mean, they’re all interchangeable role guys. Wouldn’t surprise me at all if Lasco makes the team, and someone a tad more familiar than even Vick Ballard, does not.
MP
I was not following the draft closely due to social obligations but I expected them to trade up once more the way this was going. The day after I could no longer load my entire twitter feed (too many messages). I went to bed right after the drafted Lasco and thought: “Oh well.” Segueing into our next bit; they did not take a Guard there because of a couple of reasons. 1 Hightower is not a lock as you say. 2 they need a gunner and some special teams increase. This guy is a special teamer AND a backup RB in case 3 go down again like last year. What else can you take in round 7 then a guy who has a high ceiling and can contribute on special teams. That his bust percentage is high too… well, it is only a 7th rounder.
MP
On to the not signing a Guard. I think Payton is pretty confident that Lelito and Kelemete will be ok. Though he would have liked a starting Guard, the Saints held true to their faith and drafted the best available guy time and time again. If you have a guy rated so much higher and he is still there, like Bell, like Onyemata you just pull the trigger and get the guy. You better get someone that you feel good about rather then go Falcons and take the guy that sounds good. I bet they did their due diligence and looked at a lot of guys at the OL position. I think that when the guys they liked as a starter were no longer there they felt comfortable getting a couple of UDFA project players since a 4th or a bunch of UDFA do not differ that much. They need depth at that position and felt they could make good offers for the rookies and that is exactly what happened. Now I do hope they can get that guy that was just cut, forgot his name. Does he go on waivers? (This is gonna be old news by the time this gets posted).
BB
Ah, you’re talking about Matt Slauson. No, he’s not subject to waivers, too much service time. And yes, he would make a lot of sense for the Saints provided he’s willing to come cheap. I’d also point out that our buddy Jahri Evans is still out there and has to be considering a discount if it means keeping the band together.
Here’s my take when it comes to guards, and it’s either an amazing stroke of luck or some pretty brilliant gambling on Mr. Loomis’ part. The two guys most Saints fans were clamoring for starting as early as Round 4 and still rumbling as of Round 7, Landon Turner of North Carolina and Jack Allen, a former Center at Michigan State. When both were there when Lasco came and went, Saints Nation collectively bemoaned the Saints seeming disinterest in taking offensive lineman and pronounced the draft a dud. A funny thing happened – both Turner and Allen signed with the Saints. Both. The reasoning? There was a view among undrafted free agents that the Saints had a need at the position. Want to make a team as a UDFA? Go to a team that needs that position. They did. Bold prediction here, but I think both wind up making the team, effectively giving the Saints 7 picks this past weekend. I can’t say for certain Loomis 100% knew what he was doing, but you have to admit – if the guys you wanted went well before you had a chance to take them, why not leave that ‘help wanted’ sign out front in terms of need, and watch the talent everyone missed come to you?
At any rate, add these two guys and either Slauson or Evans and frankly, I’m good at guard for another year at least.
MP
I agree with you there. Guys want to make the roster, look at a team that has zero depth. Still you have to wonder, why did those guys drop that far. Saints must have known something and maybe spread a rumor, or they genuinely are bad.
I would like to end the post by giving a huge thanks to the Saints Nation Blog house hold designer for making the header image for our (nearly) weekly post. You can find him on twitter via @SirGumbeaux. If you want to see more of his work you can look at the Saints Nation Podcast design, the Saints Nation Guru post, the Bold Predictions and of course the Happy Hour Podcast logo (did I forget anything?). He delivers some awesome work. If you are looking for some outsourcing of design work, send him a tweet! He is a super nice guy and a great Saints fan!
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