Breaking Down the Saints Defensive Talent

I love Mike Triplett, and am surprised to learn that he's started to take LSD.

After the first three, putting Jenkins and Harper as the next two smacks of post-2009 wishful thinking. At this point, they are what their record says they are.

The only other legitimate NFL starter on the D side is Bunkley, as the decline for both Smith and Vilma was palpable the last two years, and guys like Hicks, Wilson and Galette are nothing more than potential with various shelf-expiration dates (although to be fair Hicks still has a chance to essplode this year).

And Elbert Mack was light-years better than White last year.

Among this group, Mack might be the only one worth re-signing after he was solid as a nickel cornerback last year. Casillas is still a young player with potential, but he doesn't seem like a great fit for a 3-4 defense since he's small for an inside linebacker.

Mack wasn't put into the numbered list because he's a UFA.

I agree that the list's order is suspect and reeks of wishful thinking.