zorro37
Cha-Champs
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I'm trying to put some of these together for the positions the Saints are week at. Help is welcome.
Due to the terrible injury to Mike McKenzie before the season’s end, and the utterly horrible play of Jason ‘Deep Roast’ David, the Saints essentially, although it all depends on Mike’s rehab, need to come out of this offseason with at least 2 corners.<o></o>
First a look at the free agents available. Unfortunately for us, this year is not that deep in terms of quality at the position. Out of 16 potential UFAs, only 7 ended the season as starters. Marcus Trufant has made it clear he wants to resign, and <st1:city><st1>Seattle</st1></st1:city> would be mad not to keep him. <st1:city><st1>Oakland</st1></st1:city> will franchise tag Nmandi Asamogha if he doesn’t resign. With so much more needs on the defensive side that a splurge on Asante Samuel would be a bad move. Players I would realistically put on the Saints radar are Detroit starter Travis Fisher; San Diego’s Drayton Florence, a player who has been in the shadow of Antonio Cromartie all year, but is starting caliber; the Jet’s seventh year vet Hank Poteat, who has playoff experience and a ring from his tenure with the Pats, and would start in favor of David and Dallas’ Jacques Reeves. Reeves has started 13 games this year, and the Cowboys are said to be high on him. He is unrestricted and would be a nice pickup.<o></o>
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2 corners who are not free agents but may be available are <st1:city><st1>Atlanta</st1></st1:city>’s DeAngelo Hall and <st1:state><st1>Tennessee</st1></st1:state>’s Pacman Jones. Obviously, Jones is a big no no due to his character issues. Hall is a 24 year old, pro bowl player who has been in the league 3 years. He is also a great kick returner who was rumored to have told our coach he would play under him for the minimum. Although he is a dirty bird, if Hall is there and wants to come here, we would be stupid not to offer up at least a 3<sup>rd</sup> for him.<o></o>
In the draft, the corner position is deep, but there are little to no quality players there warranting the Saint’s top ten selection now that Malcolm Jenkins has chosen to return to school. Mike Jenkins (USF) and Aquib Talib (<st1:state><st1>Kansas</st1></st1:state>) are pretty much guaranteed first rounders. Provided his stock continues to rise as it has done, Leodis McKelvin (<st1:city><st1>Troy</st1></st1:city>) should make it there too. Antoine Cason (<st1:state><st1>Arizona</st1></st1:state>) could go in the late first as well. I would prefer we leave the selection of a CB to the 2<sup>nd</sup> or 3<sup>rd</sup>. The likes of Brandon Flowers (Virginia Tech), Chevis Jackson (LSU), Tracy Porter (Indiana), Justin King (Auburn), or my preference, Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie (Tennessee State), would all be around when we pick in rounds 2 and 3 and would all be great value and immediate starters.
Ideally we: Sign Marcus Trufant in FA and get Leodis McKelvin in the 2nd
Realistically we: Sign Drayton Florence and Jacques Reeves in FA and take DRC in the 3rd, with KR Brian Stillman in the 7th.<o></o>
Due to the terrible injury to Mike McKenzie before the season’s end, and the utterly horrible play of Jason ‘Deep Roast’ David, the Saints essentially, although it all depends on Mike’s rehab, need to come out of this offseason with at least 2 corners.<o></o>
First a look at the free agents available. Unfortunately for us, this year is not that deep in terms of quality at the position. Out of 16 potential UFAs, only 7 ended the season as starters. Marcus Trufant has made it clear he wants to resign, and <st1:city><st1>Seattle</st1></st1:city> would be mad not to keep him. <st1:city><st1>Oakland</st1></st1:city> will franchise tag Nmandi Asamogha if he doesn’t resign. With so much more needs on the defensive side that a splurge on Asante Samuel would be a bad move. Players I would realistically put on the Saints radar are Detroit starter Travis Fisher; San Diego’s Drayton Florence, a player who has been in the shadow of Antonio Cromartie all year, but is starting caliber; the Jet’s seventh year vet Hank Poteat, who has playoff experience and a ring from his tenure with the Pats, and would start in favor of David and Dallas’ Jacques Reeves. Reeves has started 13 games this year, and the Cowboys are said to be high on him. He is unrestricted and would be a nice pickup.<o></o>
<o></o>
2 corners who are not free agents but may be available are <st1:city><st1>Atlanta</st1></st1:city>’s DeAngelo Hall and <st1:state><st1>Tennessee</st1></st1:state>’s Pacman Jones. Obviously, Jones is a big no no due to his character issues. Hall is a 24 year old, pro bowl player who has been in the league 3 years. He is also a great kick returner who was rumored to have told our coach he would play under him for the minimum. Although he is a dirty bird, if Hall is there and wants to come here, we would be stupid not to offer up at least a 3<sup>rd</sup> for him.<o></o>
In the draft, the corner position is deep, but there are little to no quality players there warranting the Saint’s top ten selection now that Malcolm Jenkins has chosen to return to school. Mike Jenkins (USF) and Aquib Talib (<st1:state><st1>Kansas</st1></st1:state>) are pretty much guaranteed first rounders. Provided his stock continues to rise as it has done, Leodis McKelvin (<st1:city><st1>Troy</st1></st1:city>) should make it there too. Antoine Cason (<st1:state><st1>Arizona</st1></st1:state>) could go in the late first as well. I would prefer we leave the selection of a CB to the 2<sup>nd</sup> or 3<sup>rd</sup>. The likes of Brandon Flowers (Virginia Tech), Chevis Jackson (LSU), Tracy Porter (Indiana), Justin King (Auburn), or my preference, Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie (Tennessee State), would all be around when we pick in rounds 2 and 3 and would all be great value and immediate starters.
Ideally we: Sign Marcus Trufant in FA and get Leodis McKelvin in the 2nd
Realistically we: Sign Drayton Florence and Jacques Reeves in FA and take DRC in the 3rd, with KR Brian Stillman in the 7th.<o></o>