Article from espn insider This weekend's mandatory mini-camp in New Orleans could be critical, not just to rookie head coach Sean Payton and a Saints team trying to recover from the disastrous 2005 campaign, but also to the landscape of the early portion of this month's NFL draft. New Orleans dealt starting left offensive tackle Wayne Gandy to Atlanta on Thursday, in part because the Saints' brass felt the 12-year veteran had become too pricey with a $4 million base salary for this year, but also because Payton and offensive coordinator Doug Marrone wanted the chance to see how second-year pro Jammal Brown would react to a crucial position change. Brown started in 13 games at right tackle for the Saints last season. The team's first-round choice in 2005, and a 13-game starter at right tackle as a rookie, Brown was quietly one of the NFL's top first-year players last season. But now the former Oklahoma standout will be asked to move to the left side, and to become the primary pass-protection bodyguard for quarterback Drew Brees, who is still recovering from shoulder surgery and scheduled to be just a spectator this weekend. By making the Gandy trade when they did, the Saints essentially provided themselves five practice sessions this weekend to evaluate Brown at left tackle. That's five practice sessions well in advance of the draft, where the Saints, if Brown falters, still have the option of using the second overall pick in the first round to snatch University of Virginia left tackle D'Brickashaw Ferguson, if necessary. Ferguson, of course, is the top-rated tackle in the lottery. Pairing him with Brown would provide the Saints a terrific young tackle tandem for many years. New Orleans has so many shortcomings to address, though, that choosing Ferguson might be a luxury the Saints really can't afford. On the other hand, if Brown isn't up to the task, and this weekend will provide an early evaluation, then the Saints might have to take a hard look at Ferguson, especially given the need to protect Brees. Other franchises in the top 10 of the draft, several of whom covet Ferguson, will be keeping a keen eye on the reports coming out of the Saints' mini-camp this weekend. They will pay strict attention to any news that hints at how Brown performed at left tackle. It wasn't all that long ago that New Orleans could claim a wealth of depth on the offensive line. As much as any team in the league, the Saints did a superb job of stockpiling young blockers, and for years were one of the deepest franchises in the NFL on the offensive line. But the Saints lost star center LeCharles Bentley to Cleveland as an unrestricted free agent, released starting left guard Kendyl Jacox and then dealt Gandy to the Falcons, a rare trade involving division rivals. There's a lot to rebuild in New Orleans, obviously, off the field. On it, the Saints need to remake much of their offensive line, and the first step comes this weekend.
ill respond that sucks cause now that they pass on dbrick they are probably going to take mario williams and we are probably going to take dbrick... im one of those people who thinks we should use 29 and or 35 on an olineman but with the first pick i really think we should get a franchise player like a leinhart or a williams or a hawk but hey thats just me
I 100% agree with you, D-Brick would be a wasted pick at 4 because we already have a solid LT in Jones. I'd much rather take McNeil, Winston, Scott, O'Callaghan--one of those guys to play RT at 35 or in the third round, and a player at a skill position like Leinart, Williams, Hawk, or even Young at #4 and the same thing at 29, like White, Maroney, Hali, Carpenter, those guys. I just feel that there is a lot of O-Line talent that can be had a little later on in the draft for better value. I think we need playmakers, that's why I'd rather not take O-Line early. Sure, Mangold would fill a major need at 29, but taking a top RB like White at 29 and then someone like Greg Eslinger, or a guard like Chris Chester of Luiti from USC in the 3rd, where the RB talent wouldn't be much better than we have now, would be a lot smarter IMO. Same thing with D'Brick, I'd rather take a top skill position player at 4 and then take one of the tackles I mentioned above later on, where there won't be "playmakers" available. Also, nyjets I love your avatar. Mario looks great in green.
Jets will get their playmaker at #2 when they select Matt Leinart. Saints probably take Williams at 4
How can anyone say that taking D'brick at 4 is a wasted pick? That is beyond retarded. This is a guy HEAVILY touted for his pass protecting...he is only going to get better against the run... We would be very lucky to have a guy like D'Brick on our team considering how weak our Oline was last year....especially our pass protection.
After reading about 30 threads related to the draft, it's pretty obvious that there is not a single player or draft strategy (trading up or down) that we can all agree on. But unless we draft a punter with the 4th pick, I don't think anyone can call it a "wasted pick". Personally I'm confident in the new administration's ability to manage this draft. No, I don't have any history to draw on but I've been impressed with Mangini/Tannenbaum so far. I just have faith that whatever they do come draft day, there will be some intelligent thought behind it. Remember, none of us know what the long-term plans are in terms of personnel. Again, I love it that the FO is so tight-lipped. It's a refreshing change from the previous staff. Keep the faith!
I agree...I don't think there is anyone we should be literally DISSAPOINTED with...unless like you said...we draft a punter or someone out of left field... If we draft Brick, Mario, Leinart, Young, or anyone who has the potential these guys have...how could you be dissapointed? I am happy with any of em...Brick or Mario are the most reallistic options at this point.
Since when are defensive linemen and linebackers skill positions??? Skill positions are QBs, RBs, and WRs. And we have been all over the Jones debate since January. Some of us don't think Jones has shown that he is adequate yet, let alone solid. And did you know that on the most important day of his football life - the USC tryout day a few days ago- White showed up tremendously overweight and out of shape??? While I liked him in January, if he can't motivate himself to stay in shape for these two months to audition for the NFL, he can't be trusted to stay in shape AFTER he had a contract. I'll pass on him, thanks.
And QB's drafted early have been such a sure thing. How about Kyle Boller, David Carr, Joey Harrington, Tim Couch, Akili Smith, Ryan Leaf . . . .. . .
How is Robert Gallery a bust? They played him out of position and used a bad blocking system that the Raiders O-line wasnt built for. Thats like chewing out a scrambling QB when you used him as a pocket passer. Do some research before you label him a bust.
I don't really understand the talk of the saints taking Mario Williams,they've got a great pair of young ends in Will "getting jiggy with it" Smith and Charles Grant.
Exactly... I think that the Saints will be throwing out as many smoke screens as they can to get teams (mainly the Jets) to bite and try and trade up for a man. Obviously the Jets are not so in love with Williams that they will trade up for him, but the more unclear it is who the Saints will draft, the more the Jets will want to go up. I think that we should not trade up but rather trade down. If you look at whats going to be available at 4, there's nothing worth the fourth pick that fits our teams needs. Mario/D'brick. We have an abundance of defensive lineman, and Jones looks like a solid Left Tackle. AJ Hawk- Suited as a 4-3 OLB, not a great pass rusher, but hits hard. THis wouldn't be horrible, but he's not the dominant outside pass-rushing force like Bobby Carpenter, who we should take with 35. Jay Cutler- Looking more and more like a bust...and not worth a top 5 pick. There was hype about Cutler, and I wouldn't hate drafting him, but I think we will address QB next year. No one else is worth that pick, so we should trade down to like 15 or something where there is a lot more value, like D'Angelo or Maroney or Justice ,Scott, McNeill...etc.
We take Mario and if we want Justice or any one else plus a pick we make a deal with the trade down team to take Justice or whomever and make the trade. Mario is flat out worth the pick. If we are going to pass on him we must guarantee we get a player we want not just some hypothetical value number. It’s called doing your homework and planning. Just stockpiling picks for the sack of getting bodies when you have a sure thing is the old way of doing business. It’s time to start operating like a smart franchise with a forward looking plan. Value is only value if you have kicked the tires and know what you’re getting in return, otherwise your just hoping to get value and you may get junk.
If I were a millionaire, I would put a bounty of 2 million dollars to the man (or woman) that could shave a portion of Mel Kiper's head on live TV during this year's NFL draft.
