I’m inclined to think the Saints would ideally like to leave this draft w/ Bowers (1 Viewer)

[Infoman]

I think we'd have to jump ahead of the Jets to get Bowers. Trade to #9 with CHI for our #14, 2025 2nd rounder and one or two of our 5ths this year

I see that as a real possibility too.... I said in my original mock over a month ago... that the Jets at 10 are our biggest road block to Bowers, and if he's really our guy... we can't let him slip to CSP either.

 

[Infoman]

Why wouldn't the Bears just take Bowers? I think they are mostly set on defense but they sure could use some weapons to help out a rookie QB and what better to help a rookie QB than a TE security blanket to get him easy throws and YAC? They could go WR too but Bowers is basically a WR who blocks better.

Bears have Cole Kmet (who was an absolute stud TE last year) and 2 picks in the top 10... they will look to trade back at 9 (for future cap purposes alone).... They can get a great weapon at WR at 14.... we should be all over it.

 

[Infoman]

But, if there is that much value at OT between 32 and 45 why wouldn't those teams just stay put and draft all the value on the board at OT or make a team pay well above draft pick value?

Because some teams will have already drafted one of the other 5 OTs that go in round 1, and need pick volume to fill out the bottom of their roster....

 

[St. Widge]

Bears have Cole Kmet (who was an absolute stud TE last year) and 2 picks in the top 10... they will look to trade back at 9.... we should be all over it.

I mean, Kmet is a good player, but he's not the generational talent that Bowers is supposed to be. Bowers is a 1,000 yards per year guy, right? If so, why wouldn't they take him and trade Kmet or take him and play more two TE sets?

 

[St. Widge]

Because some will have already drafted one of the other 5 OTs that go in round 1, and need pick volume to fill out the bottom of their roster....

But, it's likely only two, maybe only one OT, is going in the top 13. Maybe you can do it, but it's likely going to cost more than a team in the Saints position should be paying. They need to stop giving away all their draft picks given the lack of depth and holes in the starting lineup.

 

[Infoman]

I mean, Kmet is a good player, but he's not the generational talent that Bowers is supposed to be. Bowers is a 1,000 yards per year guy, right? If so, why wouldn't they take him and trade Kmet or take him and play more two TE sets?

Kmet is 25 years old and has over 200 catches 2000 yards and 15 TDs in his young career... If I were the Bears - I am taking Rome or Nabers if they fall to 9... or I am trading out to whoever wants Bowers and taking Thomas Jr a few picks later to save some $ and grab some draft capital.

 

[TribuneUK]

Maybe, maybe not... maybe future pick swaps... maybe a 6th for a 7th... happens every year.... point is...

Not sure it does happen every year. But you know, opinions are opinions. Suddenly people want to believe two fifths are super valuable trade chips. Subjective vs objective etc.

This draft is littered with OTs that can be starting caliber year 1 guys at LT or RT. This is not the year to need pick for one at 14....

In fact there is so much talent at OT, I'd prefer (and I can't believe I am saying this) to trade back a few spots and pick up a 3rd... then use it and some 5ths to trade back up later.... but we never do that in the 1st....

But all of this I agree with. The trade down from 14 and then back up from 45 seems an excellent proposition. Or at least the mock draft machines make it feel that way...

 

[Infoman]

But, it's likely only two, maybe only one OT, is going in the top 13. Maybe you can do it, but it's likely going to cost more than a team in the Saints position should be paying. They need to stop giving away all their draft picks given the lack of depth and holes in the starting lineup.

The talent level difference between the 3rd or 4th best OT Fashanu / Lantham... is minimal compared to guys like Guyton, Paul, Mims, Morgan and Suamataia... It really is. Once you get past the guys like Alt, Fuaga, and Fautanu (and we likely will) - It's 6 one way - and half dozen the other... with all these OTs from the mid 1st to mid 2nd round.

 

[TribuneUK]

The talent level difference between the 3rd or 4th best OT Fashanu / Lantham... is minimal compared to guys like Guyton, Paul, Mims, Morgan and Suamataia... It really is. Once you get past the guys like Alt, Fuaga, and Fautanu (and we likely will) - It's 6 one and half dozen the other with all these OTs from the mid 1st to mid 2nd round.

And isn't that what ultimately makes you think that the Saints will end up drafting one of the guys in the OT tier ahead of Guyton, Paul, Mims, Morgan and Suamataia? They find a player they want and target them, after all.

Genuine question, and one we can't know the answer to, is how big a grade difference do the Saints hold on Latham/Fuaga/Fautanu and one or more of those other guys behind them?

 

[Infoman]

And isn't that what ultimately makes you think that the Saints will end up drafting one of the guys in the OT tier ahead of Guyton, Paul, Mims, Morgan and Suamataia? They find a player they want and target them, after all.

Genuine question, and one we can't know the answer to, is how big a grade difference do the Saints hold on Latham/Fuaga/Fautanu and one or more of those other guys behind them?

You are saying what I am saying... I am saying Alt, Fuaga, and Fautanu are tier 1 (and likely out of our reach at 14)... I think everyone else from the long list of the rest of the guys are "eye of the beholders" players.... all worthy and capable of starting this year for a team but not top 10 prospects... yet likely have mid 1st round / high 2nd round grades.

If Alt, Fuaga, or Fautanu are there at 14 (and we haven't already traded up).... there's a better than good chance we take one (Unless Bowers, Rome, or Alt somehow fall here)... If not... no big deal... there will be a SMORGASBORD of starting caliber OTs available between 32-45.

 

[RaginCajun83]

You are saying what I am saying... I am saying Alt, Fuaga, and Fautanu are tier 1 (and likely out of our reach at 14)... I think everyone else from the long list of the rest of the guys are "eye of the beholders" players.... all worthy and capable of starting this year for a team but not top 10 prospects... yet likely have mid 1st round / high 2nd round grades.

If Alt, Fuaga, or Fautanu are there at 14 (and we haven't already traded up).... there's a better than good chance we take one (Unless Bowers, Rome, or Alt somehow fall here)... If not... no big deal... there will be a SMORGASBORD of starting caliber OTs available between 32-45.

Are these OT between 32-45 actually NFL caliber starting OTs or are they really NFL OG that just happened to play OT in college

 

[TribuneUK]

I am saying Alt, Fuaga, and Fautanu are tier 1 (and likely out of our reach at 14)...

This is the only part where we disagree. I'd expect Fashanau (sp.) is also in that cloud/tier and one of these 4 will be up for grabs*. But not Alt lol.

* But then again, NFL teams do like to fill their dance card with big guys early.

So then OT will be BPA. I say that, assuming the Saints grades match either of your or my assumptions..

 

[Infoman]

Are these OT between 32-45 actually NFL caliber starting OTs or are they really NFL OG that just happened to play OT in college

Judge for yourself.... I say Yeah, these guys all have 10 year starting OT written all over them... and there is not a huge gap between these guys and the top 3 / 4 rated guys... Insanely deep year at OT.











I see a lot of... "Oh my goodness, that's some 1st round footspeed, power, length, and nasty."

 

[St. Widge]

You are saying what I am saying... I am saying Alt, Fuaga, and Fautanu are tier 1 (and likely out of our reach at 14)... I think everyone else from the long list of the rest of the guys are "eye of the beholders" players.... all worthy and capable of starting this year for a team but not top 10 prospects... yet likely have mid 1st round / high 2nd round grades.

If Alt, Fuaga, or Fautanu are there at 14 (and we haven't already traded up).... there's a better than good chance we take one (Unless Bowers, Rome, or Alt somehow fall here)... If not... no big deal... there will be a SMORGASBORD of starting caliber OTs available between 32-45.

I'd say Faushanu and Latham are both ahead of Fuaga and Fautanu. Faushanu is the 2nd best pure LT and only because Alt is so good. And while I'm not a huge fan of Latham, everyone close to the Saints seems to think they really like Latham and they like him over Fuaga and Fautanu. I think the Saints grade the OTs Alt, Faushanu, Latham, Fuaga, Fautanu or something close to that. But that's speculation based on stuff I've read from people with sources on her and reading between the lines from Underhill so I could be wrong.

 

[ELLIASJWILLIAMS]

Jordan Morgan showed well at Senior Bowl.