Saints: in the Mock Drafts

the deal with Fluker is that he's projected as a RT or OG, not a LT. for ex:

"Fluker doesn’t have the feet to protect the blindside but profiles as a potentially elite right tackle due to his ability to anchor at the point of attack and maul in the run game."

"If Fluker doesn't improve his pass protection, some NFL teams will probably want him to move to guard, especially if they feature pass-happy offenses. He could be an excellent guard in the NFL"

"At his size, Fluker is strictly a right tackle or perhaps even a guard prospect as he hasn't demonstrated the agility or balance necessary to handle NFL speed rushers on a consistent basis."


as for Menelik Watson:

CBS
"In terms of upside, Watson ranks right up there with the Luke Joeckel, Eric Fisher and Lane Johnson as one of the elite talents among offensive tackles in the 2013 draft. Possesses light feet, long arms, and natural overall weight distribution. Flashes great quickness and balance when dropping back into pass protection. Naturally strong, heavy hands to latch on and control opponents. Flashes a physical pop to rock defenders on their heels. Good balance. Natural knee bender who can sink to absorb contact. Best attribute might be straight-line speed. Races off the ball to block defenders at the second level, sometimes 20+ yards downfield. Blessed with the traits that will catch the imagination of NFL offensive line coaches for every team in the league."

NFL.com
"Watson has rare athletic ability on a tremendous frame. He has an explosive first step, light feet, and a powerful punch. ...He can project to either tackle spot"

National Football Post
"A rare athlete with uncommon natural strength, Watson has the physical talent of the top offensive tackles in the NFL...a rare athlete with excellent size, strength and intangibles (that) are hard to find ... He has the flexibility to bend knees and sink hips to pass block with base/leverage. His foot quickness and ability to pass block with base enable himt o easily slide out to the corner to block explosive edge pass rushers when he slides on correct angle. This ability to block with base also shows up in his ability to re-direct and slide quickly in other direction to handle quick COD pass rush moves when he sees/anticipates them coming. He has heavy hands and can jolt pass rushers up right to stop them in their tracks when he is aggressive punching in pass pro. Once he locks up on DE he has the strength to eliminate man from the play consistently. Aggressive on down/side blocks, Watson can collapse the entire DL down the LOS to open big hole for RB. He is quick getting through to the second level and can lock up LB and eliminates him from play. He has the quickness and speed to pull around far side OT and can adjust to block on the move when he stays over feet and under control.
A smart young man, Watson has picked up football very fast in last two seasons. ... Perhaps the most unique story in this year's Draft, Watson has only played football since the 2011 season. After growing up playing soccer in England and then developing into an excellent high school basketball player, Watson was able to get a basketball scholarship to Marist in NY. However, after he was done playing basketball he decided to give football a try and showed up at Saddleback JC having never played the game before. It took him a short while to become a starter and by mid-season was their best offensive linemen. He then was offered a scholarship to Florida State and ended up winning a starting job in 2012 and after an excellent season choose to come out early for the Draft."

 

There is a sameness that pre-draft coverage always evolves into that leads to players like Vernon Gholston becoming consensus early 1st rounders who - in reality - are way over-hyped.


Here are my thoughts on all of the above (and then some):

1. Jarvis Jones should be avoided at all costs. He has been diagnosed with spinal stenosis. I don't care how great he was at UGA, the dude is a hit away from being paralyzed. This is the same condition that prompted Cooper Manning to not play at Ole Miss and ended the career of Marcus McNeill.

2. IMHO, I think Matt Elam and Eric Reid are better safeties than Kenny Vaccaro. Vacarro's 40 time is crappy (4.65 range), honestly. Why spend a 1st rounder on a safety who is not all that faster than Harper, who you are trying to replace? Elam's height (5'10") becomes an excuse to elevate Vaccaro and I have no idea why Reid is not considered a mid 1st rounder by all these clowns.

3. Some of these same draft "experts" have Sam Montgomery sliding into the 4th or 5th round. What freaking football planet do they live on? I guess it is the same one where they think Te'o is better than Minter?

4. Both Saints OT positions need upgrades. Zach Strief lost us the MNF game to Atlanta with his fine impersonation of a human turnstile and Bushrod (now gone via FA) was overrated to begin with. I have no problem seeing us pick up either Fluker or Watson (or someone like Faulk in a later round).

5. Apparently the Jets have offered the Saints a 4th or 5th rounder for Chris Ivory. If it is a 4th this year, I'd take it and run. Ivory was a UDFA (freebie) and RBs have the shortest shelf life of any NFL position - especially for "pounding" RBs like Ivory. Trading Ivory and getting a pair of fresh legs in the form of a Marcus Lattimore or Michael Ford would be an upgrade, not to mention other players that have a high likelihood of being available then (Faulk, Edwards, Brandon Jenkins, Baccari Rambo, Barrett Jones, etc).

6. I just hope the Saints don't take a DT in the 1st round. With the exception of Aikeem Hicks, we don't have a good track record in recent years of that. Better value on fat guys in later rounds that have lower bust potential.

 

fwiw, Todd McShay released his updated mock draft today, and he has the Saints taking DJ Fluker at #15, while passing on OLB Jarvis Jones, passing on every DL other than Sharrif Floyd & Star Lotulelei, and passing every DB other than Dee Milliner
He has Mingo going to the Jets at #9 (the Jets also have #13 now due to the Revis trade)

 

According an Austin Chronicle article that interviewed a spinal surgeon that works a lot with the NFL, it is false that Jones is anymore likely to be paralyzed than anybody else. The research universally shows that players with spinal stenosis are at no greater risk of spinal cord injury than any other player

The article also points out that the following Pro Bowlers all had spinal stenosis:

Michael Irvin - 1988-1999 (Hall of Famer, 5x Pro Bowl)

Chris Samuels - 2000-2009 (6x Pro Bowl)

Sterling Sharpe - 1988-1994 (5x Pro Bowl)

Marcus McNeill - 2006-2011 (2x Pro Bowl)

http://www.austinchronicle.com/blogs/sports/2013-01-23/the-nfl-beat-spinal-stenosis/


Also, on April 5, Mike Florio of NBC Sports wrote that most NFL teams aren't concerned anymore with Jones' condition:
" More and more teams, we’re told, have made it clear that they have no concerns about the situation.
That doesn’t mean that some teams will be extra cautious...But the bulk of the teams seem to be untroubled by the situation."

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2013/04/05/no-medical-re-check-for-jarvis-jones/


As for Jones, he said to USA Today:

"I'm cleared. I've been cleared for a while," he said. "All the teams saw me. Nobody was worried about it."

it's "something I'm definitely not going to stress about," he said. "There's nothing I can do about it, I can't change it. I'm just willing to sacrifice everything to be great. That's all I'm worried about."

 

Mike Triplett, The Times-Picayune

Assuming the following are gone before #15
DL Star Lotulelei
DL Sheldon Richardson
OLB Mingo
Etc, etc, this is his top 5 most likely for the Saints at #15

1. Kenny Vaccaro
My pick for the New Orleans Saints' pick?
Texas safety Kenny Vaccaro.
Vaccaro could easily be their man with
the 15th pick
The Saints are hoping that longtime
starters Roman Harper and Malcolm
Jenkins will improve in new defensive
coordinator Rob Ryan's scheme after they
both struggled so mightily last year under
coordinator Steve Spagnuolo. But even if
Harper and Jenkins bounce back, the
Saints need to develop a future starter at
the position. Harper is 30 years old, and
Jenkins is heading into the last year of his
contract. ... both of them
have uncertain futures beyond this year.
Vaccaro is the highest-rated safety
prospect in this year's draft, with the best
combination of physical toughness,
athleticism and pass coverage ability. He
could help upgrade the Saints' defense
immediately...
Vaccaro's versatility would make him a
huge asset at a position where the Saints
have struggled recently.

2. ILB Alec Ogletree, Georgia
he's a dynamic athlete who could
play inside the Saints' 3-4.
He's good in coverage and
good at attacking the quarterback...
(although he) isn't an edge rusher
(as an OLB in a 3-4).
More than anything else on their defense,
the New Orleans Saints need dynamic,
disruptive play-makers. But that doesn't
mean they have to draft an edge pass
rusher. Olgetree could help them wreak a
little havoc from the middle
Although Ogletree isn't an edge rusher,
he might actually be the most dynamic
defensive athlete in this year's class. And
he would be a weapon the Saints could
move around in different formations in
their new 3-4 defense.

3. OLB Jarvis Jones, Georgia
No defensive player in this year's draft
class was more productive than Jones in
college ... There are minor
concerns about a spinal condition Jones
has been dealing with for years, but that
shouldn't be a huge issue.

4. RT D.J. Fluker, Alabama
Although the massive Fluker (6-5, 339)
projects as a prototypical right tackle, he
should be a pretty dominant one in the
NFL. So he might be the highest-rated
player on the Saints' board when they
pick. And they could potentially try him
or current right tackle Zach Strief out on
the left side, if needed. Fluker, by the
way, is a New Orleans native who had to
relocate after Hurricane Katrina.

5. CB Xavier Rhodes, Florida State
The Saints made cornerback their top
priority in free agency. And even after
they signed the star of their class, Keenan
Lewis, they continued to pursue veterans
Nnamdi Asomugha and Tracy Porter.
Clearly, the Saints want to improve their
pass defense, with an emphasis on
physical corners who can handle man-to-
man press coverage.
That makes Florida State's Xavier Rhodes
a very realistic option with the Saints'
first-round pick. ... at 6 feet 2, 210 pounds,
Rhodes is the kind of big, physical corner
they focused on in free agency while
making the transition to new defensive
coordinator Rob Ryan's attacking style.

-CB Desmond Trufant
Washington's Desmond Trufant is also a
first-round possibility.

-DL Sylvester Williams, North Carolina
Sylvester Williams is also
a first-round possibility

-OLB Bjoern Werner, Florida State
he is a proven pass rusher, and the
Saints can't have enough of those.

 

Junior Gallette's first five tweets of today, he wants Jarvis Jones at #15:

NuLa C.E.O. ‏@JuniorG93
5h
Morning #WhoDatNation It's #DRAFTDAY Who Do U Guys Want To See Us #DRAFT In The 1ST ROUND? #WHODAT

NuLa C.E.O. ‏@JuniorG93
5h
#Mingo Is Very Athletic Good Player Just don't understand the 4.5 Sacks As Everydown Guy #Jones Is A Flat out #BALLER

NuLa C.E.O. ‏@JuniorG93
4h
Me @MartezWilson95 + #VictorB Are Going 2 Hold It Down 4 PassRush But U Can Never Have 2 Many Rushers #Jones Has My Vote

NuLa C.E.O. ‏@JuniorG93
4h
They talk bad about #Jones 40 #PaulKruger Ran 5.0 #JamesHarrison Ran 4.9 All about #GetOff and #HandViolence in #NFL

NuLa C.E.O. ‏@JuniorG93
4h
But Hey What Do I Know Last Time I checked There's Less Then 5 Pple in my Draft Class With More SACKS And I WASN'T #DRAFTED

 

with the draft about to begin, here's a look the latest mock drafts, and who they have the Saints taking, and who they had getting taken before the Saints pick at 15

National Football Post
4/25/13 -- Russ Lande

Fox Sports
4/25/13 -- Peter Schrager

Yahoo! Sports
4/24/13 -- Doug Farrar, Shutdown Corner
4/22/13 -- Greg Cosell, Shutdown Corner

Sports Illustrated
4/25/13 -- Don Banks
4/24/13 -- Peter King

ESPN
4/24/13 -- John Clayton
4/23/13 -- NFL Blog Network (division experts played GM for their divisions)
4/22/13 -- Mel Kiper
4/21/13 -- Todd McShay

CBS
4/24/13 -- Pete Prisco
4/24/13 -- Pat Kirwan
4/22/13 -- Dane Brugler
4/22/13 -- Will Brinson
4/21/13 -- Rob Rang
4/21/13 -- Clark Judge

NFL.com
4/25/13 -- Charley Casserly
4/25/13 -- Daniel Jeremiah
4/24/13 -- Mike Mayock
4/24/13 -- Bucky Brooks
4/23/13 -- Gil Brandt
4/22/13 -- Josh Norris

USA TODAY Sports
4/24/13 -- Nate Davis

Washington Post
4/23/13 -- Mark Maske

Rotoworld
4/24/13 -- Evan Silva

Walter Football
4/24/13 -- Walter Cherepinsky
4/24/13 -- Charlie Campbell

DraftCountdown.com
4/25/13 -- Scott Wright

NFLmocks.com
4/25/13 -- Blake Meek

ExpertMockDraft.com
4/22/13 -- NA

Drafttek.com
4/25/13 -- NA

2013 NFL GM Mock Draft
4/21/13 -- various draft websites each picked a team that they played GM for

FFToolbox
4/25/13 -- FFToolbox Users
4/24/13 -- Rob Warner
4/24/13 -- Ben Standig


OFFENSE (WR and OL only)

WR
Tavon Austin 6/7/8/8/8/9/9/9/9/9/9/11/11/13/13/13/13/13/13/13/13/13/13/13/14/14/16/16/16/16/16/16/16/16/23
Cordarrelle Patterson 8/14/16/17/17/17/17/20/21/21/22/22/22/22/23/23/23/23/23/25/25/25/25/27/27/27/27/27/31/44
Justin Hunter 17/22/22/23/23/25/25/25/27/27/27/27/27/27/27/27/27/29/29/29/32/41/41/41/44
DeAndre Hopkins 16/22/22/22/22/22/25/27/27/27/27/27/29/31/36/44/44/50
Robert Woods 23/23/27/27/27/27/27/27/29/29/29/32/41/44/48/48/52/60
Keenan Allen 23/25/25/25/27/27/27/29/30/32/32/40/40/43/52/52/74
Terrance Williams 22/29/57/59/62/71

OT
Luke Joeckel 1/1/1/1/1/1/1/1/1/1/1/1/1/1/1/1/1/1/1/1/1/2/2/2/2/2/2/2/2/3/4/4/4/4/5
Eric Fisher 1/1/1/1/1/1/1/1/1/1/1/1/1/1/2/2/2/2/2/2/2/2/3/3/3/3/4/4/4/4/4/4/5/6/7
Lane Johnson 3/3/4/4/4/4/4/4/4/5/5/5/5/5/5/5/5/5/5/5/6/6/6/7/7/7/7/7/7/7/7/11/11/11/11
D.J. Fluker 7/10/11/11/11/12/12/12/12/12/12/12/15/15/16/16/16/18/18/18/18/18/18/18/18/18/19/19/19/19/20/20/22
Menelik Watson 19/19/19/19/20/21/21/26/26/26/26/27/27/30/32/36/36/38/42/53
Justin Pugh 19/19/19/24/26/26/30/37/38/41/42/45/49/50/80
Kyle Long 22/30/37/39/51/50/56/56
Terron Armstead 26/36/43/47/51/56/56/62/67

OG
Chance Warmack 7/7/7/7/7/7/8/8/8/8/9/10/10/10/10/10/10/10/11/11/11/11/11/11/12/12/13/16/16/16/18/18/18/18/19
Jonathan Cooper 7/7/7/8/8/8/8/8/8/9/10/10/10/10/10/10/10/11/11/11/11/11/11/11/11/11/12/12/12/18/18/19/22
Barrett Jones 29/86/93

C
Travis Frederick 24/50/50/53
Barrett Jones 29/86/93


DEFENSE

DL
Sharrif Floyd 2/2/3/3/3/3/3/3/3/3/3/3/3/3/3/3/3/3/3/3/3/3/3/4/5/9/9/10/10/10/10/14/14/14/17/18
Star Lotulelei 3/3/3/4/4/4/4/4/4/7/7/7/9/10/10/10/10/11/12/13/14/14/14/14/14/14/14/14/14/14/15/18/23/26
Sheldon Richardson 1/11/11/12/14/14/14/14/14/14/14/14/14/14/14/14/15/15/18/18/18/18/18/18/18/18/18/18/19/19/23/23/25/26
Sylvester Williams 14/14/14/15/15/18/18/18/20/23/23/23/23/23/23/23/23/23/23/24/24/25/25/26/28/29/32
Datone Jones 20/23/24/24/24/24/24/24/24/24/26/28/28/28/29/29/30/31/31/33/34/40
Jesse Williams 23/24/24/28/26/31/31/31/31/32/34/45/57/58/75
Johnathan Hankins 24/27/29/39/43/45/55/58/60/61
Margus Hunt 29/31/31/34/34/38/40/54/61
Kawann Short 20/31/44/43/47/47/61/90
Johnathan Jenkins 26/26/57/61/61

OLB
Dion Jordan 2/2/2/2/2/2/2/2/2/2/2/3/4/4/4/4/4/4/4/4/5/5/6/6/6/6/6/6/7/7/8/8/9/9/10
Ezekiel Ansah 2/2/2/2/2/3/4/5/5/5/5/5/5/5/5/5/5/5/5/5/5/6/6/7/7/7/7/6/8/10/10/12/15/19
Barkevious Mingo 3/6/6/7/7/7/8/8/9/9/9/9/9/9/9/9/9/9/9/9/9/9/9/9/11/12/13/13/13/13/13/13/13/15/15
Jarvis Jones 9/11/13/13/13/15/15/15/15/15/15/15/15/15/15/15/15/15/15/15/15/17/17/17/17/17/17/17/17/17/17/17/20/22/29
Bjoern Werner 5/15/19/19/19/19/19/21/22/23/24/24/26/28/28/28/28/28/28/28/28/28/28/28/28/29/30/33/40/41
Cornellius Carradine 12/12/15/19/19/19/19/23/24/24/26/28/28/29/30/31/31/31/36/40
Damontre Moore 21/22/26/28/28/36/47/48/48/57
Corey Lemonier 17/51/56/62/86
Jamie Collins 29/54/60/68/69
Alex Okafor 49/54/54/59/60/77

ILB
Alec Ogletree 11/15/16/16/16/19/19/20/20/20/20/21/22/22/22/22/24/25/28/32/32/32/32/37/46
Manti Te'o 18/20/20/20/20/20/20/20/20/20/23/23/23/25/25/25/25/25/25/25/25/25/25/32/32/32/37
Arthur Brown 20/20/20/20/20/21/32/32/32/32/32/36/37/49/49/49/50
Kevin Minter 25/32/32/32/32/42/45/48/52/57/58

CB
Dee Milliner 3/5/5/5/6/6/6/6/6/6/6/6/6/6/6/6/6/8/9/9/9/9/10/10/10/10/10/10/11/11/12/12/13/30
Xavier Rhodes 10/12/12/12/12/12/12/12/12/13/15/17/17/17/19/19/20/23/24/24/24/24/24/24/24/24/24/28/29/29/29/30/30
Desmond Trufant 17/19/19/20/20/21/21/24/24/25/25/25/27/28/28/29/29/30/30/30/30/30/30/30/30/30/31/44
D.J. Hayden 10/10/12/12/13/19/20/24/25/25/28/28/28/29/29/30/30/30/30/34/51
Jamar Taylor 20/28/29/29/29/30/30/30/30/30/30/31/34/35/39
Johnthan Banks 29/30/32/39/39/40/42/43/45/46/51
David Amerson 28/53/64/65

S
Kenny Vaccaro 11/12/13/13/13/14/14/14/14/15/15/15/15/15/15/16/16/16/16/16/16/16/16/16/16/16/16/16/17/19/21/22/22
Jonathan Cyprien 18/21/21/21/21/21/21/21/24/26/26/26/29/30/31/31/31/31/31/31/31/32/32/32/33/46
Eric Reid 16/18/21/21/21/21/21/21/21/21/22/22/22/26/31/31/31/32/32/37/47/47/47
Matt Elam 17/21/21/22/22/25/26/26/26/27/31/32/32/32/45/45/55

 

here was some of their reasoning behind their picks:

Rob Rang CBS
Jarvis Jones, OLB, Georgia: The Saints are looking for pass-rushers as they adjust to new defensive coordinator Rob Ryan's 3-4 scheme. No one is a better fit - or more productive -than Jones, who simply led the country in tackles for loss (24.5), sacks (14.5) and forced fumbles (seven) a season ago.

Dane Brugler CBS
Jarvis Jones, OLB, Georgia: The Saints are transitioning to a 3-4 defensive scheme and new defensive coordinator Rob Ryan will want to add pass rushers to the mix. Jones is a natural fit as a stand-up 3-4 LB pass rusher and although he has some flaws, his ability to disrupt the pocket is a coveted attribute.

Bucky Brooks, NFL.com
Saints: Jarvis Jones. Jones, who has the first-step quickness and burst to wreak havoc on opponents off the edges, is the most natural pass rusher in the draft.

Blake Meek, NFLmocks.com
New Orleans Saints — Jarvis Jones OLB, Georgia: Jones is one of the top talents in this draft

Pat Yasinskas, ESPN
Saints: Jarvis Jones -- Analysis: I feel good about the Jones pick because I think he brings a skill set that will fit nicely in coordinator Rob Ryan's defensive scheme. Jones can rush the passer from the edge and the Saints desperately need to improve their pass

Russ Lande, National Football Post
15. New Orleans Saints: Jarvis Jones, DE/OLB, Georgia, Junior: Jones has been tremendously productive in the SEC and would be a good fit playing rush linebacker in the Saints defense.

Ben Standig, FFToolbox
15. NO: Jarvis Jones, OLB, Georgia
Saints could go in several directions on defense including safety, but pass rusher is arguably their top need.

Doug Farrar, Yahoo! Sports-Shutdown Corner
New Orleans Saints: Jarvis Jones, OLB, Georgia
In Rob Ryan's new defense, Saints players will be asked to move around and be more multiple. One thing Ryan can't spackle together with scheme: The kind of pass-rush skill Jones brings to the table.

Don Banks, Sports Illustrated
Saints: Kenny Vaccaro, FS, Texas: With both Roman Harper and Malcolm Jenkins leaving a lot to be desired at safety, the Saints would be giddy to see Vaccaro last until their pick comes up. Alabama offensive tackle D.J. Fluker has to be considered another need-based possibility

Scott Wright, Draftcountdown.com
Kenny Vaccaro: The Saints defense was historically bad last season, finishing dead-last in pass defense and second to last against the run. In reality they could use help on all three levels and this pick may just come down to grabbing the best defender available. There is a chance Texas S Kenny Vaccaro could come off the board earlier than expected, perhaps in the Top 10 overall. However, if Vaccaro is available he would not only be an upgrade over Roman Harper but cheaper as well. A well-rounded player who is physical in the box but also has the range to be effective in coverage, the addition of Vaccaro would go a long way towards shoring up the issues New Orleans has in the back end of their defense. The Saints could also be in the market for a pass rusher at outside linebacker with Barkevious Mingo of L.S.U. and Jarvis Jones of Georgia the most likely possibilities at this point due to their ability to excel in an odd front like the one they recently hired Rob Ryan to impliment. West Virginia WR Tavon Austin has been mentioned as an option too and while it would certainly be a lot of fun to see a dynamic playmaker like that in the Saints high-powered offense it is tough to justify neglecting that dreadful "D".

Pete Prisco, CBS
Saints: Kenny Vaccaro, FS, Texas: The range on the back end of their defense is terrible. Vacarro can fix that.

Pat Kirwan, CBS
Saints: Kenny Vaccaro, FS, Texas: Vaccaro sets the tone in the secondary.

Walter Cherepinsky, Walter Football
Sheldon Richardson is a steal if he falls this far. If Richardson makes it to New Orleans, it's an easy pick. OTHER 2013 NFL DRAFT POSSIBILITIES:
1. Xavier Rhodes, CB - The Saints made a nice signing with Pittsburgh's Keenan Lewis, but they still showed interest in upgrading the other cornerback position when they brought in Nnamdi Asomugha and Tracy Porter.
2. Barkevious Mingo or Jarvis Jones, DE/OLB - Pass-rushing option for the Saints' new 3-4.
3. Kenny Vaccaro, S - Another way New Orleans can upgrade its poor secondary.

Will Brinson, CBS
Sheldon Richardson, DT, Missouri: Rob Ryan's new defense means a need for pass rushers, and someone like Jarvis Jones would definitely fit here. But the Saints also need to make the defensive line sturdier, and Richardson does just that.

Greg Cosell, Yahoo! Sports-Shutdown Corner
15. New Orleans Saints: My pick here is Utah defensive tackle Star Lotulelei. Lotulelei, based on overall skills, could have easily been selected higher in my mock. He has an impressive combination of size, strength, athleticism and competitiveness. He has light feet, ease of movement, strong hands. There were times I conjured up the word nimble to describe Star’s movement. He isn't explosive in the same manner as Shariff Floyd or Sheldon Richardson, but Lotulelei was stronger with the ability to shoot his hands with power. He’s not a true inside pass rusher, but he has the attributes to develop into an effective rusher due to his athleticism and strength. In an ideal Rob Ryan defense, which places a premium on position and scheme versatility, Lotulelei is a perfect fit.

Peter King, Sports Illustrated
Saints: Sylvester Willams, UNC -- I thought it'd be a pass rusher here (and he has the Saints passing on Jarvis Jones), and it's very possible that's how the Saints go with their lone top 70 pick. But a versatile defensive tackle's smart too.

Evan Silva, Rotoworld
Saints -- Florida State CB Xavier Rhodes
Under new defensive coordinator Rob Ryan, the Saints are transitioning to a press-heavy scheme in the secondary with an emphasis on big, long-armed DBs capable of matching up physically with Julio Jones and Vincent Jackson in the NFC South. Rhodes was the fourth tallest corner at the Combine, second heaviest, and had the third longest arms. With Rhodes and Keenan Lewis on the outside and Jabari Greer in the slot, New Orleans could field a formidable nickel package.

Rob Warner, FFToolFox
15. NO: Alec Ogletree, ILB, Georgia (over Jarvis Jones)
The Saints must upgrade a pathetic defense as their anemic pass rush and below average secondary must be addressed if they expect to sniff the playoffs in 2013. Character concerns make Ogletree a high risk / high reward pick. The junior was arrested for a DUI and suspended the first four games of this season but amassed 99 tackles, 8.5 tackles for a loss, and two sacks in 2012. He's a freakish athlete that could help to solidify the interior of new DC Rob Ryan's 3-4 defense.

 

Note one of the latest mocks had Terron Armstead going 1st R