Draft News

By Amie Just The Times-Picayune | The New Orleans Advocate

The New Orleans Saints will no longer be allowed to draft out of the Dixie Brewing Company in New Orleans East, the team confirmed, because the NFL informed teams via memo on Monday that all clubs will be drafting virtually this year from home due to the coronavirus pandemic.

General managers, head coaches, assistant coaches and other executives must conduct draft business from their own homes, meaning teams can’t just gather at one person’s residence for the April 23-25 draft.

In the memo, the NFL cited competitive balance and how most states have state-wide stay-at-home orders.

The Saints first allowed the majority of their employees to work from home beginning on March 12. All facilities will remain closed indefinitely, the memo read, according to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero and ESPN’s Adam Schefter.

The NFL offices have been closed since March 13 and all team facilities have been closed since at least March 26, regardless of state mandates. As of Monday, all the governors of states with NFL teams have enacted state-wide stay-at-home orders.

Full Story - Daily Comet

By Bob Rose | SI

Over the last three seasons, the New Orleans Saints have rebuilt their linebacking corps from a glaring team weakness into a much more athletic unit. They signed A.J. Klein as a free agent away from division rival Carolina in 2017, then added Alex Anzalone in the 3rd round of that year’s draft. In 2018, they signed Demario Davis, who has had two All-Pro caliber seasons and evolved into one of the league’s best defensive players. Last season, they brought in Kiko Alonso in an early season trade with the Miami Dolphins after adding promising Kaden Elliss in the seventh round of the draft.

Despite improvements at the position, the linebacker spot is considered a need for the Saints as this month’s NFL draft approaches. Davis is a key to the success of the defense, but the Saints lost Klein in free agency, Elliss is unproven, and versatile backup Craig Robertson is best as a spot-starter when necessary. Anzalone has been terrific when he’s been able to stay in the lineup, but has missed 29 of 53 games in his three years because of shoulder injuries. Alonso has injury concerns of his own, after tearing his ACL for the third time in last year’s playoff loss to the Minnesota Vikings.

Full Story - SI

By Bob Rose | SI

The New Orleans Saints will enter the 2020 season with one of the league’s best starting duos at cornerback. Marshon Lattimore and Janoris Jenkins form one of the NFL’s most formidable tandems against any receiving corps and will be one key to any defensive success this season. The depth behind Jenkins and Lattimore is a question though. Second-year defensive back Chauncey Gardner-Johnson was outstanding in the slot during his rookie campaign but could play more safety this season. The team re-signed P.J. Williams and restructured the contract of Patrick Robinson this offseason, but both players are often heavily targeted by opponents with success when they’re on the field. They also signed Deatrick Nichols out of XFL’s Houston Roughnecks in hopes he adds some ball-hawking ability to the position.

Today’s NFL is predicated on multi-receiver sets and multiple defensive backs being used to stop it, so New Orleans should address the lack of depth at this spot in the upcoming draft. The Saints own the 24th overall pick of the 1st round, along with selections in the 3rd, 4th, 5th, and 6th rounds. Some mock drafts have New Orleans grabbing a defensive player with their first-round choice, and there are several talented defensive backs who will be available. Today’s draft profile looks at one such player who has excelled at a college football powerhouse.

Full Story - SI

By Bob Rose | SI

When the New Orleans Saints agreed to terms with free-agent wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders two weeks ago, they addressed a major weakness. The Saints have gotten little production from their wideouts outside the record-breaking exploits of All-Pro Michael Thomas. The acquisition of Sanders, along with other free agent moves the team has made, gives the Saints more flexibility with their first-round draft pick (24th overall) along with the rest of their selections.

New Orleans may still opt to use their first pick to further bolster the receiving corps, depending on their draft board and the talent available when they select. The wide receiver position is deep in this draft, however, and teams will be able to grab a quality wideout in later rounds. Today we profile a player who won’t hear his name called in the 1st round, but one that looks like he can be a difference-maker in the league.

Full Story - SI

By Mike Detillier / Sports Correspondent

We all have to adjust to things in life.

We are going through some unprecedented times today due to the Coronavirus outbreak that has spread across our nation.

The virus spread has also affected the scouting of college players for the NFL draft later this month.

This has impacted all of our lives and it trickles into the NFL and how they deal with players in college entering the league who have had injuries or have had off the field issues.

I’m a big believer that the smart folks in the NFL figure it out and find a way to make the right decision on who to select, but these times have thrown the league into doing things differently when it comes down to player rehabilitation. It will have an impact on players with injuries and also the call on players who have had issues off the field.

Alabama quarterback Tua Tagovailoa sustained a dislocated hip in the fall and he seems to be more than ahead of his rehab time with the hip injury, but his health status will raise more questions for teams picking early in the draft.

Full Story - houmatoday.com