Who would you take at #9 in this scenario

[WhoDat?DrewDat]

Which is what other JAG TEs get paid now.

He's making the 12th most per year for TEs.

He is nowhere close to being the 12th best TE.

 

[WhoDat?DrewDat]

Our DC’s specialty is linebackers, we absolutely do have the coaching staff for that.

This is not Allen’s team

I don't agree with this at all. How is Staley a linebacker guru?

What has he done to earn this?

DA might be a horrible HC but he was and is an elite defensive coordinator.

 

[MG3n2K5]

Taking Walker at 9 would be a complete failure IMO. He needs to have a coaching staff that can really utilize him to the best of his abilities and we don't have that.

If you want a linebacker pick Jihaad. If you want an edge there's much better prospects even at 40 IMO.

MLB at #9, no. Get one later in the draft or in free agency in a year or two, don't like the positional value of that position that high in the first round at all. MLB's are pretty cheap in free agency.

 

[St. Widge]

He's making the 12th most per year for TEs.

He is nowhere close to being the 12th best TE.

If you look at his numbers compared to those in that salary range his salary is about right. It's maybe a bit high, but it's not stopping us from doing anything.

 

[tmorrison]

Tyler Booker
Jahdea Barron

 

[WhoDat?DrewDat]

If you look at his numbers compared to those in that salary range his salary is about right. It's maybe a bit high, but it's not stopping us from doing anything.

You're forgetting those players are significantly better blockers.

There's still plenty of guys paid less that are just better. We definitely paid him on potential.

 

[Furious One]

This draft isn't top heavy, but there's value in trading down for picks. Sometimes quantity over quality is the way to go, especially with all the needs this team has. If it was me, I'd load up on picks. Take the shotgun approach, scatter and pray.

Kelvin Banks could be the pick if you've not happy with Will Campbell. Some people like Barron more than Will Johnson, so he could be the pick. Golden may end up being better than Tet McM. I don't see this as the nightmare scenario some do, just an opportunity. Trade down, load up...

 

[St. Widge]

You're forgetting those players are significantly better blockers.

There's still plenty of guys paid less that are just better. We definitely paid him on potential.

I think he's in the range, but sure they are paying him somewhat based on potential. They are also paying the tax for not having any other real options at TE because they have missed on the position in the draft and they they only had one complete TE and he probably won't be ready for the season. But it's not a huge amount over and it's not going to stop them from doing anything they want to do for the next 3 years.

 

[SonOfNOLA]

That's a valid point of view, but I personally think that this Saints team needs to take the player that is the most likely to be the best player long term. I get that we are trying to be competitive, but I think we all know that we are at best looking at competing for the NFC South this year with a 9 or 10 win team. So, we really need to be looking at the long term and who is going to be the best player in 2 or 3 years. I'm not sure who that is, but I'm very leery of taking a guy who is a long term injury risk given how much injuries have hurt this team recently.

And, honestly, if we are going with who is going to be the best starter short term, that answer is probably Campbell even if he's only a Guard. And, I don't think any of us want to take a Guard at #9 and, frankly, I think even a good to very good ILB is only slightly better value than an OG at #9.

The other option if you want a starter, for the short and long term, would be the best available Safety. Which again isn't great value.

And, that's the problem. If this scenario plays out, there aren't any great options and trading down if probably the best of bad options. Just have to hope someone really wants to move up to take Dart or on of the OL or Edges.

Safety makes a lot of sense. That can be Mathieu’s replacement in ‘26 or at some point during the 2025 season. Taking a Safety can allow Mathieu to be used more at multiple positions as a safety, nickel, and passing down ILB to take advantage of his ball hawk skills. I think a Safety pick would be considered an experienced day 1 starter prospect succeeding an aging star vet.

Looking at the Saints’ last 5 1st round picks, they’ve usually drafted a starter experienced at their position/position group to be the top player at a glaring hole. Fuaga never played LT but he was the most talented Saints OT enough to move to LT while it was only the opposite OT position. Bresee was a DT drafted to be the top DT/DL. Penning started mostly LT at UNI and drafted to be Armstead’s LT successor. Olave was OSU’s WR3 in targets but drafted because of his WR1 ceiling which he eventually became with the Saints as a rookie. Payton Turner was a developmental DE pick who they hoped could develop into a starter long term while we had a win now roster with Sean Payton as HC.

Based on their recent draft history, they’ve added immediate starters with their 1st round picks to fill a hole, rather than on basis of competing short term.
It seems best to get a day 1 starter with a high pick because their long term outlook to be a productive starter is more apparent. I think the Saints have to be very careful with drafting developmental players that high at #9 to not repeat another Turner or Davenport. They don’t want to spend multiple years hoping their development at a new position is going to pan out any year now during the rookie contract. They would have to keep drafting players at their position while they wait for the developmental 1st rounder to breakout or because they showed that they’ll never be a long term starter and became a wasted top 10 pick.

 

[DerrickB]

If the board fell like that, here's the route I'd go.

Jalon Walker, LB
Jihaad Campbell, LB
OR Mykel Williams, EDGE

The Saints have to find Demario and Cam's replacements between this year and next.

 

[SonOfNOLA]

There are going to be awkward fits moving to a 3-4 & it will take a couple years to get there. Can't really have them both as 3-4 OLB's either because while they are athletic for 4-3 DE's they do not have the athleticism to both be a 3-4 OLB (you can have one of them be a straight up stand up edge rusher but not both, at least long term). Need someone more athletic on the opposite side unless Staley wants to run a 5-2 defense.

Granderson came into the league as a small speed rusher with size suited more for 3-4. During his combine his athleticism was rated average-67 just under the Good-70 threshold. That was amongst DE/edges rather than all rushers including 3-4 according to the category on the NFL website.

He only bulked up to fit Allen’s plodder type of DE mold. He can essentially trim back down 7 pounds to his original draft weight for more advantage as a standup rusher.

I can’t really see them drafting OLB at #9 because of Granderson’s athleticism questions in the 3-4. He’s proven to be a very effective rusher regardless of the scheme change. He can’t be traded before June because of the 20.4M dead money charge. He has a tradeable cap hit after 6/1 but don’t think it’s ideal to use a top 10 pick on a starting spot thats not weak. 2nd-3rd round seems to fit OLB depth range.

 

[St. Widge]

Safety makes a lot of sense. That can be Mathieu’s replacement in ‘26 or at some point during the 2025 season. Taking a Safety can allow Mathieu to be used more at multiple positions as a safety, nickel, and passing down ILB to take advantage of his ball hawk skills. I think a Safety pick would be considered an experienced day 1 starter prospect succeeding an aging star vet.

Looking at the Saints’ last 5 1st round picks, they’ve usually drafted a starter experienced at their position/position group to be the top player at a glaring hole. Fuaga never played LT but he was the most talented Saints OT enough to move to LT while it was only the opposite OT position. Bresee was a DT drafted to be the top DT/DL. Penning started mostly LT at UNI and drafted to be Armstead’s LT successor. Olave was OSU’s WR3 in targets but drafted because of his WR1 ceiling which he eventually became with the Saints as a rookie. Payton Turner was a developmental DE pick who they hoped could develop into a starter long term while we had a win now roster with Sean Payton as HC.

Based on their recent draft history, they’ve added immediate starters with their 1st round picks to fill a hole, rather than on basis of competing short term.
It seems best to get a day 1 starter with a high pick because their long term outlook to be a productive starter is more apparent. I think the Saints have to be very careful with drafting developmental players that high at #9 to not repeat another Turner or Davenport. They don’t want to spend multiple years hoping their development at a new position is going to pan out any year now during the rookie contract. They would have to keep drafting players at their position while they wait for the developmental 1st rounder to breakout or because they showed that they’ll never be a long term starter and became a wasted top 10 pick.

I think the thing is that in this scenario, outside of Safety and OG, you are likely to get just as good of a starter in the back half of the first as you are at #9 which makes it a very difficult spot to be. I think the outlook totally changes if the Saints think Campbell, or another OT, is going to be a starter at LT that lets them ove Fuaga to RT and they don't have to pay Penning. It's not sexy at all, but it should set you up really well on the OL for 4 to 10 years or so.

But, I don't know enough about the players to know if that OT is there and I don't know how they feel about Penning. And, I've never been impressed with Campbell despite being a big LSU fan.

The more I look at it, maybe the best option, since I doubt the trade offers will be good, is to go CB, Slot, or Safety if the board falls like this.

 

[soggymoss84]

I don't agree with this at all. How is Staley a linebacker guru?

What has he done to earn this?

DA might be a horrible HC but he was and is an elite defensive coordinator.

Never said he was a guru, but as a position coach he focused on linebackers more than anything, so linebackers are his “specialty” just like DB’s was DA’s “specialty”

 

[WhoDat?DrewDat]

Never said he was a guru, but as a position coach he focused on linebackers more than anything, so linebackers are his “specialty” just like DB’s was DA’s “specialty”

Is there a history or him making a difference as a linebacker coach? Like examples?

DA has a huge list of DBs...

 

[MG3n2K5]

Granderson came into the league as a small speed rusher with size suited more for 3-4. During his combine his athleticism was rated average-67 just under the Good-70 threshold. That was amongst DE/edges rather than all rushers including 3-4.

He only bulked up to fit Allen’s plodder type of DE mold. He can essentially trim back down 7 pounds to his original draft weight for more advantage as a standup rusher.

I can’t really see them drafting OLB at #9 because of Granderson’s athleticism questions in the 3-4. He’s proven to be a very effective rusher regardless of the scheme change. He can’t be traded before June because of the 20.4M dead money charge. He has a tradeable cap hit after 6/1 but don’t think it’s ideal to use a top 10 pick on a starting spot thats not weak. 2nd-3rd round seems to fit OLB depth range.

I have no problem with Granderson or Chase as stand up edge rushers (I like them both there), just think they need a more dynamic LB lined up on the other side. More sideline to sideline speed, more explosive burst, ability to shadow & attack mobile QB's, ability to do some coverage vs. RB's & TE's. someone you can put at LB in a 3-3-5 in nickel to rush or cover. That's not them. Defense has a serious need to get faster & more athletic.