Rate My Interactive Offseason Game: New Orleans Saints GM (how'd I represent you guys?)
Hi guys, I participated in a mock interactive offseason game as the New Orleans Saints GM, I'd like to know how y'all thought my offseason panned out.
This started at the beginning of Free Agency, so NONE of the actual Saints current moves were made. I signed my own FAs.
My goals were defense, defense, and more defense.
Pre-Draft Trades
Draft Pick #109 for
Jonathan Vilma, MLB: Nothing exciting, just mirroring the real life trade.
Free Agent Signings
Lance Briggs, OLB: I targetted both him and Asante Samuel, but Samuel's bidding got out of hand and I wouldn't have been able to squeeze him under the cap and sign anyone else. Doesn't matter though cause I got by far the best LB available, and filled a huge need for the Saints.
Boss Bailey, OLB: I chose not to tender Matt McCoy, and so got Boss Bailey to replace him. Bailey is quality depth and can make an impact on special teams.
Dan Morgan, MLB: Hehe, maybe I'm a bit of a prophet. I actually signed Morgan before the actual real life Saints signed him, provides quality depth behind Vilma.
Jacob Bell, OG: The second highest rated OG in FAcy this year behind Alan Faneca. Provides great depth and could instantly challenge for a starting spot.
Devery Hendersen, WR: I went after Bernard Berrian but got outbid. I guess Hendersen can be a poor man's Berrian, and he has some upside.
Jerome Mathis, WR/KR: The Saints were sorely needing a KR. Mathis could be a viable fourth or fifth WR option, but his sole duties will be on returning kicks and punts. Made the Pro Bowl as a returner during his rookie year.
Brian Young, DT: A solid player that I resigned for cheap. We all know the Saints gotta claw for all they've got at the DT positions.
Mike Rucker, DE: Good depth along the line. Old but maybe he's still got a bit left in the tank.
Mike Doss, SS: Just provides some depth among the secondary.
Aaron Glenn, CB: A former Pro Bowl CB that could be brought in to tutor the CBs I will be drafting. Still has a bit left in the tank.
I pursued
Bernard Berrian,
Randall Gay,
Gibril Wilson,
Alge Crumpler, and
Rod Coleman but I couldn't squeeze them under the allotted cap room.
Draft Trades
Draft Pick #10 (1st Round) for Draft Pick #32 (2nd Round), Draft Pick #57 (2nd Round), DE Jason Taylor, Draft Pick #96 (4th Round): Miami had San Diego's second round pick. I got this monster of an offer for the #10 overall. I actually tried to trade up to #7 (Glenn Dorsey was there), but the asking price was my first and second rounder, which I was not willing to give. I'm glad I waited around though, as I was able to trade down and accumulate a load of draft picks, and a great DE. Jason Taylor will really push Charles Grant's lazy *** to work harder and would be a huge help on the DLine.
The Draft
Round 2 Pick 32:Reggie Smith, CB/S, Oklahoma.
I love this guy. I honestly thing he's only behind Leodis McKelvin and Mike Jenkins as CB prospects. What's more, he doubles as a Safety and triples as a kick returner. I honestly think that he's a better Safety than Kenny Phillips; had Smith stayed at Safety his final year instead of moving to CB to help his team, he probably would be ranked higher than Phillips. The fact that he's garnered a first round grade at both Safety and Cornerback really shows his versatility and athleticism.
Round 2 Pick 40: Pat Sims, DT, Auburn.
A great DT with monster upside. A solid player against the run and a monster penetrator in the pass rush, he fills a huge need for the Saints. Could you imagine this on passing downs: LDE Jason Taylor, NT Pat Sims, UT Charles Grant, RDE Will Smith. That's ferocious.
Round 2 Pick 57: Tracy Porter, CB, Indiana.
Combine 40: 4.37
Pro Day 40: 4.29
In my opinion, he outperformed DRC at the Senior Bowl. A true playmaker at the CB position, he's actually a lot like Leodis McKelvin. Terrific in man coverage, but has great hands unlike McKelvin. Could work on his bump coverage though. Has elite speed and playmaking skills, running in the 4.2 - 4.3 range.
Round 3 Pick Pick 78: Martellus Bennett, TE, Texas A&M.
Fred Davis and Dustin Keller were off the board. However, I believe Bennett is the most complete TE prospect in the draft; while he may not have the receiving skills of Davis and Keller, he is far above either of them as a blocker. He's the best blend of receiving and blocking in this draft.
Round 4 Pick 96: Quintin Demps, FS, UTEP.
Combine 40: 4.40
He is a blistering fast playmaker that could compete with Bullocks for the FS job immediately. Had 5 INTs this year and 7 INTs last year; he is the definition of a playmaker. Ran a 4.40 at the combine, which is blistering fast for a Safety. The knock on him is that he does not play the run all that great, but honestly with Briggs, Vilma, and Fujita as your LBs, who needs a run stuffing Safety :P. He excels in coverage and would definitely help out the Saints struggling secondary.
Round 5 Pick 138: John Sullivan, OC, Notre Dame.
The best Center left on the board, great value in the fifth round; he's universally projected as a third rounder. With Jeff Faine bolting for Tampa, Sullivan would compete for the starting Center job and adds some depth along the OLine.
Round 6 Pick 169: Jack Williams, CB, Kent.
Combine 40: 4.55
Pro Day 40: 4.33
His slow Combine 40 was actually due to him recuperating an ankle injury. He ran closer to his true time at his Pro Day, a blistering 4.33. Notched 93 tackles while battling ankle injuries his senior campaign, showing his toughness and willingness to play the run. He is pretty much the perfect Nickelback: good man-to-man skills, a bit undersized but with superb strength and very good against the run.
Round 7 Pick 200: Erik Ainge, QB, Tennessee.
By far the BPA left on the board, I have no idea how he fell this far. He has all the tools to be a great QB, but is very inconsistent; at times he looks like a top 5 pick, while at others he looks like he wouldn't even be drafted. QB is one of the last things the Saints need, but I think that learning under Brees, Ainge could grow into a Matt Schaub type deal (Atlanta moved up 2 spots in the first and acquired 2 second rounders for Schaub) down the road. At worst, he's a 7th round bust, and honestly can you even call a 7th rounder a bust?
Final Depth Chart
(taken and modified from Yahoo! Sports - NFL - New Orleans Saints - Depth Chart so don't shoot me if some players are no longer here or whatnot)
Keep in mind that I had to go through FAcy myself, so some of the current Saints players are not actually Saints in my world.
My contributions are bolded and underlined.
I realize that I've gone way over the roster limit, but we didn't actually have a limit during our mock, so you might see some unrealistic things (such as 9 Cornerbacks :P).
QB: Drew Brees, Tyler Palko, Erik Ainge
RB: Deuce McAlister, Reggie Bush, Pierre Thomas
FB: Mike Karney, Kevin Dudley
WR1: Marques Colston, David Patten, Jerome Mathis
WR2: Lance Moore, Devery Hendersen, Robert Meachem
TE: Martellus Bennet, Mark Campbell, Ronnie Ghent
LT: Jammal Brown, Jermon Bushrod
LG: Jacob Bell, Jamar Nesbit, Andy Alleman
C: John Sullivan, Jonathan Goodwin
RG: Jahri Evans, Tim Duckworth
RT: Jon Stinchcomb, Zach Strief
LDE: Jason Taylor, Charles Grant, Josh Savage
DT: Brian Young, Antwan Lake
DT: Pat Sims, Hollis Thomas, Kendrick Clancy
RDE: Will Smith, Mike Rucker, Josh Cooper
SLB: Scott Fujita, Boss Bailey, Mark Simoneau
MLB: Jonathan Vilma, Dan Morgan, Marvin Mitchell
WLB: Lance Briggs, Scott Shanle, Troy Evans
LCB: Mike McKenzie, Tracy Porter, Jason Craft, Usama Young
RCB: Reggie Smith, Aaron Glenn, Jason David, Anwar Phillips
NCB: Tracy Porter, Jack Williams
FS: Quintin Demps, Reggie Smith, Josh Bullocks, Kevin Kaeshivarn
SS: Roman Harper, Mike Doss, Chris Reis
K: Martin Grammatica
P: Steve Weatherford
KR: Jerome Mathis, Tracy Porter, Reggie Smith
PR: Jerome Mathis, Tracy Porter, Reggie Smith
Whew. So, how do you think I did Saints fans? Did I represent your team well in the draft, or did I tank the whole offseason? Did I make your team better or worse? Throw your opinions at me.