I’m inclined to think the Saints would ideally like to leave this draft w/ Bowers (2 Viewers)

[ELLIASJWILLIAMS]

Dude got humbled

I always tell people, the jump from College to Pro's is enormous and a lot of it is mindset. A lot of these guys when they are playing in college it's fun, but then you get to the Pro's you're facing guys that are playing to feed families, maintain lifestyles, keep their lights on....it's a different type of animal when you see it from that POV.

 

[saint_drago]

I think they thought Penning would develop snap to snap, game to game. He didn't.... part of that I feel like was on Marrone though and why he was replaced.

I'm hoping against hope that Marrone was to blame for most of the issues up front. John Benton certainly has the resume. I'm hoping he can turn this thing around.

 

[SWJJ]

 

[Infoman]

Great, now we have to trade up for him.... sigh

 

[RaginCajun83]

Great, now we have to trade up for him.... sigh

It’s Walter Thomas with actual NFL caliber athleticism

 

[Kegger]

If Bowers gets to 12 there's no reason to make a trade. It's unlikely SP takes him, he has much more pressing needs. Pretty much the same thing with LV
The biggest threat to take him before us are the Jets. So that means we'd have to move up to 9 and that would be too expensive at this point

If we like Bowers more than the rest of the players available at 12, we should move up if DEN wants to trade. As you said, DEN and LV need a lot of help and are probably both candidates to move down (with someone other than us).

 

[St. Widge]

If we like Bowers more than the rest of the players available at 12, we should move up if DEN wants to trade. As you said, DEN and LV need a lot of help and are probably both candidates to move down (with someone other than us).

I'd be happy with Bowers at #14, but I don't want to spend future draft picks to get him or anyone else other than if they have identified a franchise QB that they need to trade up to get. This team just has too many holes and needs, with only two picks in the top 100 this year and a bunch of late round picks to be trading away future picks. They are going to need those picks next year and beyond to continue getting more inline with the salary cap while compiling young talent. Bowers, great though he may be, isn't going to instantly turn this team into a contender long term.

I'd be happy to take him at #14 and then try to move up some from #45 for an OT with some of those 5th round picks, or take an OT at #45 and bring in Peat and/or Becton.

 

[sammymvpknight]

I'd be happy with Bowers at #14, but I don't want to spend future draft picks to get him or anyone else other than if they have identified a franchise QB that they need to trade up to get. This team just has too many holes and needs, with only two picks in the top 100 this year and a bunch of late round picks to be trading away future picks. They are going to need those picks next year and beyond to continue getting more inline with the salary cap while compiling young talent. Bowers, great though he may be, isn't going to instantly turn this team into a contender long term.

I'd be happy to take him at #14 and then try to move up some from #45 for an OT with some of those 5th round picks, or take an OT at #45 and bring in Peat and/or Becton.

This. I’m taking Bowers at 14, but I’m not investing premium picks on top of that for him. There is a good chance the Saints struggle this year…and if we do, we need to every resource possible for a franchise QB next year.

 

[DSnfla]

I would love to draft Lathan, kick Penning to RT and have Latham/Peat battle it out at LT w/ the loser playing G. Latham reminds me of the Cowboys G/T that they drafted. Will eventually play LT but you can put him at G year 1 and get something like a Carl Nicks level protector from that spot. I'd also tinker with getting Saldiveri on the field at G. Noticed the Saints have McCoy and Ruiz listed as G/C on their depth chart/roster.

With a new OL coach, new scheme...I don't think any position should be secure. If after the draft the OL looked like Lathan, McCoy, Ruiz, Saldiveri, Penning... and you let them mesh I wouldn't be upset.

I think we'd be better off resigning Peat and have him and Penning battle for starting LT. I think it unwise to make TP attempt to play RT a position he's never played before and make Latham play LT a position he has not played since HS. I would give Saldiveri every chance to win the starting LG job , if not Peat can play LG . OL would look like Latham RT Ruiz RG Mac C Saldiveri LG Penning LT. With Udo backing up RT Peat Backing up LG and LT and hopefully Hurst never sees the field

 

[DSnfla]

Latham has the highest ceiling and biggest bust factor of any OT in the draft. Mims might be the best one out of them all when it’s said and done. Guyton and Morgan both are going to be starting RTs year 1 IMO. The only sure fire LT in this draft is Alt and he’s beyond our reach.

I assume the team will do all it can do to make Penning our LT next year. So I’m good with waiting until day 2 to find our replacement for Ram.

I disagree Mims has the highest Boom /Bust, only 803 snaps in 8 starts , plus a history of injuries. He's the textbook example of taking a shot. Latham's floor is much higher than Mims.
So the question for you is Nabers , Odunze and Bowers are gone along with Turner and Alt plus 4 QB's, who you taking?

 

[DSnfla]

The decision making on the left side of the line the last two years has been baffling. This past year we eventually came to the conclusion that the best lineup available is Peat at LT and Hurst at LG. Where the heck was that lineup in 2022?

You can't take anything that happened with the OL in 22 &23 as any indication of anything because of or PUTRID OL coach Doug Moron. The OL regressed every yr since he got here , THAT'S why he was fired. To give you an indication of just what kind of an OL coach he is the only job he could get was as a Senior Analyst for Football Strategy for Boston College

 

[bclemms]

This. I’m taking Bowers at 14, but I’m not investing premium picks on top of that for him. There is a good chance the Saints struggle this year…and if we do, we need to every resource possible for a franchise QB next year.

I completely agree but honestly, I don't think any one player we draft this year makes a difference on the number of games we win this year. The odds of that happening are quite low. I really like Bowers but rookie TE's coming in and having a major impact in year one are really rare. So basically you have to look at Bowers numbers this season minus the numbers of the TE position without him and then add back in the expected numbers of the players that would have gotten the ball without him. I know LaPorta made a big impact last season with Detroit but that's really quite rare.

I still think we should draft a QB this season. I really got my hopes up for Penix but it looks like he'll go top 10 now. If he is there at the most important position and we draft a TE I really am not optimistic. I also really don't like the QB's next year. This year's class is spectacular. Penix would be the consensus #1 pick next season. I would even be ok with trading up for him. If we aren't going to do a full rebuild 3 seasons post Brees then we at least have to put some contingencies in place or last season may have been the high of this franchise for the next decade.

 

[MikeyF]

I completely agree but honestly, I don't think any one player we draft this year makes a difference on the number of games we win this year. The odds of that happening are quite low. I really like Bowers but rookie TE's coming in and having a major impact in year one are really rare. So basically you have to look at Bowers numbers this season minus the numbers of the TE position without him and then add back in the expected numbers of the players that would have gotten the ball without him. I know LaPorta made a big impact last season with Detroit but that's really quite rare.

I still think we should draft a QB this season. I really got my hopes up for Penix but it looks like he'll go top 10 now. If he is there at the most important position and we draft a TE I really am not optimistic. I also really don't like the QB's next year. This year's class is spectacular. Penix would be the consensus #1 pick next season. I would even be ok with trading up for him. If we aren't going to do a full rebuild 3 seasons post Brees then we at least have to put some contingencies in place or last season may have been the high of this franchise for the next decade.

Our 2023 OL was horrible!

If we draft any position other than OL, we you better hope that Kellen Mond is good enough to take over the backup QB because after 2 or 3 games of Carr getting hit as soon as he sets up to pass; he will get hurt and miss games. He probably will not play hurt again after the negative fan reaction of him playing through injuries last year. You will need someone who can run as if their life depends on it...

We not only need an OT that can start immediately but we need a G that can start immediately.

Free Agency is very thin at these positions with mainly older players being available...

 

[sammymvpknight]

I completely agree but honestly, I don't think any one player we draft this year makes a difference on the number of games we win this year. The odds of that happening are quite low. I really like Bowers but rookie TE's coming in and having a major impact in year one are really rare. So basically you have to look at Bowers numbers this season minus the numbers of the TE position without him and then add back in the expected numbers of the players that would have gotten the ball without him. I know LaPorta made a big impact last season with Detroit but that's really quite rare.

I still think we should draft a QB this season. I really got my hopes up for Penix but it looks like he'll go top 10 now. If he is there at the most important position and we draft a TE I really am not optimistic. I also really don't like the QB's next year. This year's class is spectacular. Penix would be the consensus #1 pick next season. I would even be ok with trading up for him. If we aren't going to do a full rebuild 3 seasons post Brees then we at least have to put some contingencies in place or last season may have been the high of this franchise for the next decade.

Outside of the QB position it is really rare that you ever find a single player that swings a win total more than a game. And when it does happen it is usually pro bowl difference maker type players.

 

[SWJJ]

I have run a few dozen mock drafts and we potentially could have the opportunity to draft Fuaga at 14 and Jordan Morgan at 45. Then we could move penning to left guard and the offensive line would be set for several seasons.