Saints Draft Class Grades from NFL Experts
I can be pessimistic and I toyed with a Trautman being a B but I attempted to stay straight forward on the scale. A=4 , B=3, C=2, D=1. That kept me from doing things like A- or B+ etc. Final grade was a 2.5 so all things considered I could have rounded up and made it a 3. Perhaps I should have but appreciate the feedback. I’m definitely not as down on the class as the C+ appears.
No worries. My OPINION is that your opinion didn't provide equal consideration to the upside...nothing more. I still look forward to your thoughts and analyses on here, and I'm certain I'm not the only one! It's all good.
I like the picks we made, but truth be told, I'd rather we made our picks where they fell, or traded back for more. I understand the Saints logic of "quality versus quantity", especially on a "loaded" roster with few holes. But since Ireland got here, the Saints have gone from average to "very good" at drafting. If we're to "play to our strengths" and be in the "best position to succeed", that involves making MORE draft picks, not fewer. And CSP espouses competition for improvement; what better competition than to bring in a full contingent of draft picks and UDFAs every year to compete for roster positions.
If those picks don't make the roster, at least they competed with the incumbents and served notice not to get complacent. Maybe they'll even help the incumbent veterans to raise their game, due to the increase in competition. They're also a subtle reminder at contract time that younger & cheaper options are readily available. Pay those who have earned it, but elite pay for elite play; not because we're thin at the position.
I can't think of a single reason not to draft as many players as possible, every year. Because our roster is already "stacked"? Not for long if we don't keep priming the pipeline. Because they won't start? See argument above regarding competition for incumbent vets. The worst that can happen is that none of the picks make the team. Guess what, none of the picks we didn't make will be on the team either. Someone else made those picks, and maybe they'll make that roster or maybe they'll be cut from that team too; but the Saints didn't have an opportunity to coach them up and see who blossoms. And if we have the superior coaching that we think we do, isn't that what superior coaches do?!
No matter how I look at this, I keep coming to the same conclusion that as long as we draft this well, and as long as we coach this well, we should be drafting as many picks as possible, every year, not trading them away. JMO...