Saints 2007 Draft

Nevimeister said
Depends on free agents. If we sign Nate Clements it diminishes our need for a CB, if we sign Donnie Edwards and/or Lance Briggs it reduces the need to draft a LB. Same goes if we sign Eric Johnson or Daniel Graham at tight end. My hope is for Alan Branch in the 1st and Fred Bennett in the 2nd after a succesful free agency haul

Alan Branch - Defensive Tackle, Michigan, 6-5, 332 (Jr.)

A mountain of a man in the middle on the Wolverine D-line and he does an excellent job stacking up things at the point of attack and collapsing the inside pocket. A massive presence (6-6, 331) on the interior, Branch is extremely strong, can stuff the run and also get after the quarterback

Fred Bennett - Cornerback, South Carolina, 6-1, 205

One of the best-kept secrets in the SEC. Has the speed and size to develop into a 1st rate match-up cornerback in the NFL."

Obviously, you are correct about free agent signings affecting the draft. I somewhat agree with the notion that you sign free agents to fill holes and then draft the best player on your board. I certainly think the Saints will be in the running to sign Edwards and will probably sign one of the guys that will be out there at TE. I haven't seen the likely free agent list, but IIRC there should be a number of veteran tight ends available. If Edwards and a veteran TE are signed in free agency, I believe the Saints' draft will be top heavy with CBs and linemen on both sides of the ball. And I think everyone is assuming that the Saints will re-sign Charles Grant and the other free agents that the Saints will have exposed. If Grant or the others are not re-signed, that could certainly change things.