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15. Dallas Cowboys (TRADE)- S Kenny Vaccaro (Texas)
I’ve said in recent weeks that while I view Vaccaro as a perfect fit for the Cowboys, he’s unlikely to make it past both the Rams at 16 and the Steelers at 17. However, if he’s there at 15, the Cowboys could move up 3 spots, give the Saints, who are without a 2nd rounder, an extra pick (a 3<SUP>rd</SUP> rounder by the trade value chart), and take him there. The Cowboys have a need at both safety spots and Jerry Jones has a noted history of loving players from the states of Texas, Oklahoma, and Arkansas. Unsurprisingly, they’re known to be very interested in Vaccaro.
18. New Orleans Saints (TRADE)- RLB Jarvis Jones (Georgia)
The Saints had the NFL’s 3rd ranked scoring offense and 31st ranked scoring defense last year, so it’s pretty obvious which side of the ball is the problem side. Their only real hole on offense is left tackle and because of Drew Brees’ quick release and excellent pocket awareness they’ve never viewed the left tackle position as important position. Jermon Bushrod was allowed to walk as a free agent for this reason. The advanced numbers show that he’s really just a middling talent that Brees made look a lot better than he was and he was overpaid by the Bears. They’ll likely just replace Bushrod internally and maybe take a developmental tackle in the middle rounds, especially since the top-3 tackles are all going to be long gone at this point.
Given that, this will almost definitely be a defensive player and they really need help at every position except middle linebacker, where Curtis Lofton and David Hawthorne are going into the 2nd year of 5 year deals and will hopefully play better in the Saints’ new 3-4 defense. Safety Kenny Vacarro is an option and certainly becomes a more likely option if they make Roman Harper a cap casualty, but if they don’t, I don’t think they’ll take someone they don’t have an obvious role for as a rookie. The same thing is true with Desmond Trufant if they cut Jabari Greer.
That leaves the front seven and it’s close between an edge rusher like Jarvis Jones or Barkevious Mingo or a big body upfront like Sheldon Richardson for their new 3-4 defense. Sheldon Richardson isn’t available to them here, part of the reasoning behind trading back, so they take Jones. He’s gotten more good news on his medicals, though while it’ll be up to the individual teams and their doctors to determine whether or not they’re comfortable with him.
75. New Orleans Saints- CB David Amerson (NC State)
Even after signing Keenan Lewis, they could add another cornerback. That’s how bad their secondary is. Patrick Robinson was benched and Jabari Greer could eventually be a cap casualty. They’re known to be targeting cornerbacks early and this is a deep cornerback class
80. New Orleans Saints (TRADE)- NT Brandon Williams (Southern Missouri)
The Saints will look at defensive linemen for their new 3-man defensive line at some point in the draft. Akiem Hicks is penciled in as the starting defensive end opposite Cameron Jordan, but he’s an inexperienced 2012 3rd round pick, while Brodrick Bunkley is playing nose tackle for the first time in his NFL career in his age 30 season. Williams is versatile depth and could eventually end up as a starter
109. New Orleans Saints- S Josh Evans (Florida)
Malcolm Jenkins and Roman Harper were awful for the Saints last season, but it looks like they’ll be given another shot in 2013. They’re unlikely to both be starting in 2014 however. Jenkins will be a free agent next off-season, while Harper will be owed 6.15 million, which he won’t see unless he turns it around in a hurry. The Saints could add safety depth in the middle rounds.
144. New Orleans Saints- OT Brennan Williams (North Carolina)
The Saints let Jermon Bushrod walk because they don’t value the left tackle position as much as most teams because Drew Brees has excellent pocket presence and a quick release. Advanced statistics show that Bushrod was just a middle of the road starter that Drew Brees turned into a 2-time Pro Bowler. For this reason, I don’t expect them to use a premium pick on an offensive tackle, but they’ll have to add one at some point. New left tackle Charles Brown has an injury history, while right tackle Zach Strief is coming off an injury plagued season himself.
2013 NFL Mock Draft | Football Fan Spot
I’ve said in recent weeks that while I view Vaccaro as a perfect fit for the Cowboys, he’s unlikely to make it past both the Rams at 16 and the Steelers at 17. However, if he’s there at 15, the Cowboys could move up 3 spots, give the Saints, who are without a 2nd rounder, an extra pick (a 3<SUP>rd</SUP> rounder by the trade value chart), and take him there. The Cowboys have a need at both safety spots and Jerry Jones has a noted history of loving players from the states of Texas, Oklahoma, and Arkansas. Unsurprisingly, they’re known to be very interested in Vaccaro.
18. New Orleans Saints (TRADE)- RLB Jarvis Jones (Georgia)
The Saints had the NFL’s 3rd ranked scoring offense and 31st ranked scoring defense last year, so it’s pretty obvious which side of the ball is the problem side. Their only real hole on offense is left tackle and because of Drew Brees’ quick release and excellent pocket awareness they’ve never viewed the left tackle position as important position. Jermon Bushrod was allowed to walk as a free agent for this reason. The advanced numbers show that he’s really just a middling talent that Brees made look a lot better than he was and he was overpaid by the Bears. They’ll likely just replace Bushrod internally and maybe take a developmental tackle in the middle rounds, especially since the top-3 tackles are all going to be long gone at this point.
Given that, this will almost definitely be a defensive player and they really need help at every position except middle linebacker, where Curtis Lofton and David Hawthorne are going into the 2nd year of 5 year deals and will hopefully play better in the Saints’ new 3-4 defense. Safety Kenny Vacarro is an option and certainly becomes a more likely option if they make Roman Harper a cap casualty, but if they don’t, I don’t think they’ll take someone they don’t have an obvious role for as a rookie. The same thing is true with Desmond Trufant if they cut Jabari Greer.
That leaves the front seven and it’s close between an edge rusher like Jarvis Jones or Barkevious Mingo or a big body upfront like Sheldon Richardson for their new 3-4 defense. Sheldon Richardson isn’t available to them here, part of the reasoning behind trading back, so they take Jones. He’s gotten more good news on his medicals, though while it’ll be up to the individual teams and their doctors to determine whether or not they’re comfortable with him.
75. New Orleans Saints- CB David Amerson (NC State)
Even after signing Keenan Lewis, they could add another cornerback. That’s how bad their secondary is. Patrick Robinson was benched and Jabari Greer could eventually be a cap casualty. They’re known to be targeting cornerbacks early and this is a deep cornerback class
80. New Orleans Saints (TRADE)- NT Brandon Williams (Southern Missouri)
The Saints will look at defensive linemen for their new 3-man defensive line at some point in the draft. Akiem Hicks is penciled in as the starting defensive end opposite Cameron Jordan, but he’s an inexperienced 2012 3rd round pick, while Brodrick Bunkley is playing nose tackle for the first time in his NFL career in his age 30 season. Williams is versatile depth and could eventually end up as a starter
109. New Orleans Saints- S Josh Evans (Florida)
Malcolm Jenkins and Roman Harper were awful for the Saints last season, but it looks like they’ll be given another shot in 2013. They’re unlikely to both be starting in 2014 however. Jenkins will be a free agent next off-season, while Harper will be owed 6.15 million, which he won’t see unless he turns it around in a hurry. The Saints could add safety depth in the middle rounds.
144. New Orleans Saints- OT Brennan Williams (North Carolina)
The Saints let Jermon Bushrod walk because they don’t value the left tackle position as much as most teams because Drew Brees has excellent pocket presence and a quick release. Advanced statistics show that Bushrod was just a middle of the road starter that Drew Brees turned into a 2-time Pro Bowler. For this reason, I don’t expect them to use a premium pick on an offensive tackle, but they’ll have to add one at some point. New left tackle Charles Brown has an injury history, while right tackle Zach Strief is coming off an injury plagued season himself.
2013 NFL Mock Draft | Football Fan Spot
