Tirk, do you see us trading up for Willis if he is still around after the 23rd/24th draft pick? I think Payton/Loomis would be very aggressive to get the player we covet/need the most.
I was just thinking the same thing. However, it is yet to be seen if the Saints draft based on "need" over a player like Willis that's a "can't pass up" pick. IMO, I think the Saints major need is in the secondary. But I admit, at picks 28-32, there just might not be a DB worthy of that selection over someone like Willis.
I don't like DBs being picked in the first round (please refer to Alex Moldin in lieu of Eddie George...ouch) I say you get a DB in free agency. I wouldn't mind Randall Gay, Deon Grant or Jordan Babineaux. Young and on the rise.
Why don't you like Roman Harper at Free Safety? I see the safety position as a place we are pretty stocked in. I'd order the positions: 1. CB 2. LB 3. RT if Stinchcomb gets away in FA. 4. TE
Roman Harper is a SS. Josh Bullocks is possibly the worst FS in the NFL. If you can tell me one time that he gave one of those "he got jacked up" hits I would be shocked. The dude don't hit anyone and he is almost always out of position to make a play. And finally when he was in position this past Saturday nite, he drops 3 potential interceptions. He's just bad. Why do you think we lead the NFL is giving up big plays for TDs? We must address MLB first and foremost. A mediocre DB can be hidden with a great pass rush and putting teams in obvious passing downs due to a good run defense. I'm telling you if our front 7 is great, the DBs won't matter nearly as much. You look back at the Dome Patrol teams of the late 80s/early 90s and we weren't exactly setting the world on fire in the secondary. They were "good enough". And that's all they had to be. I say we get back to that kind of defense. MLB and FS. If we solve both those 2 problems alone, we can blitz like crazy and not worry about the over the top plays so much. PS - Strief will be fine at RT if we don't sign Stinchcomb. We would then need to get someone else for depth.
I'd say we are definitely in a position where we need the best player available between CB and MLB in the first round. Will be an interesting offseason with the Saints only needing "pieces" instead of the massive overhaul it looked like we might be needing before the season started.
Here's the problem drafting a CB in the first round. It usually takes years to develop into a significant impact player. So why draft that position when we need results now? Get the DB in free agency. I beg of thee. On the flipside, Willis comes in and makes an immediate impact at MLB.
Willis and The Poz should be beneficiaries of Demeco Ryans last year. LBs are always undervalued in mock drafts (Pretty Boy Hawk, excluded), but much is made about the huge and immediate impact that good ones can have. As such, I think both of these guys will be first round picks, as well as the guy from FSU (Williamson?) No debating that the FSU LBs do quite well in the big league.
sniff sniff. anyone see patrick willis last night for the 49'ers? get ready for 10 pro bowls. he musta had 10-15 tackles and a forced fumble.
