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It’s Almost Draft Time
By Mike Detillier
The NFL player draft is less than a week away and here is my take on how Round 1 plays out:
1. Los Angeles Rams (from Tennessee Titans), Jared Goff, QB, California
2. Philadelphia Eagles (from Cleveland Browns), Carson Wentz, QB, North Dakota State
3. San Diego Chargers, Laremy Tunsil, OT, Ole Miss
4. Dallas Cowboys, Jalen Ramsey, CB, Florida State
5. Jacksonville Jaguars, Joey Bosa, DE, Ohio State
6. Baltimore Ravens, Myles Jack, OLB/ILB, UCLA
7. San Francisco 49ers, DeForest Buckner, DE, Oregon
8. Cleveland Browns (from Philly thru Miami), Ezekiel Elliott, HB, Ohio State
9. Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Vernon Hargreaves, CB, Florida
10. New York Giants, Ronnie Stanley, OT, Notre Dame
11. Chicago Bears, Shaq Lawson, DE, Clemson
12. New Orleans Saints, Sheldon Rankins, DT, Louisville
13. Miami Dolphins (from Philly), Darron Lee, OLB, Ohio State
14. Oakland Raiders, Mackensie Alexander, CB, Clemson
15. Tennessee Titans (from LA), Laquon Treadwell, WR, Ole Miss
16. Detroit Lions, A’Shawn Robinson, DT, Alabama
17. Atlanta Falcons, Reggie Ragland, ILB, Alabama
18. Indianapolis Colts, Jack Conklin, OT, Michigan State
19. Buffalo Bills, Leonard Floyd, OLB/DE, Georgia
20. New York Jets, Paxton Lynch, QB, Memphis
21. Washington Redskins, Jarran Reed, DT, Alabama
22. Houston Texans, Corey Coleman, WR, Baylor
23. Minnesota Vikings, Kevin Dodd, DE, Clemson
24. Cincinnati Bengals, Robert Nkemdiche, DT, Ole Miss
25. Pittsburgh Steelers, William Jackson III, CB, Houston
26. Seattle Seahawks, Andrew Billings, DT, Baylor
27. Green Bay Packers, Josh Doctson, WR, TCU
28. Kansas City Chiefs, Noah Spence, DE/OLB, Eastern Kentucky
29. Arizona Cardinals, Emmanuel Ogbah, DE, Oklahoma State
30. Carolina Panthers, Eli Apple, CB, Ohio State
31. Denver Broncos, Vernon Butler, DT, Louisiana Tech
With the draft approaching the thoughts of the best and worst selections for the New Orleans Saints come to debate. Here is my take on the best picks made in each round throughout the history of the Black and Gold from Rounds 1-12.
1. Willie Roaf - Offensive Tackle, Louisiana Tech
Other than Drew Brees, the best player to ever play for the Saints. NFL Hall of Famer.
2. Rickey Jackson - Outside Linebacker, Pittsburgh
“City Champ” is the best defensive player to ever wear the Black and Gold. NFL Hall of Famer
3. Pat Swilling - Outside Linebacker, Georgia Tech
This was a tough choice between Swilling and tight end Jimmy Graham.
4. Morten Andersen - Placekicker, Michigan State
Andersen was the greatest NFL place-kicker in our generation. He eventually will be in the NFL Hall of Fame, but offensive guard Jahri Evans was a really good player too.
5. Carl Nicks - Offensive Guard, Nebraska
Carl only played 4 years with the Saints, but he was dominant and a two-time Pro Bowler. This was a tough pick between Nicks, punter Thomas Morstead and return man Tyrone Hughes.
In 2006 the Saints picked OLB/DE Rob Ninkovich and it was a serious personnel mistake by Sean Payton to cut him loose. He has become a defensive difference-maker in New England.
6. Fred McAfee - Halfback/Special Teams, Mississippi College
The sixth round has been a sinkhole for the Saints. “Fast Freddy” gets the nod. Terrific special teams player and he earned a Pro-Bowl berth in 2002. Cornerback Johnnie Poe was a solid player for the Saints, but who should have been the guy here was quarterback Marc Bulger. He basically never got a chance with the team and was released. Bulger went on to become a two-time Pro Bowler with the St. Louis Rams.
7. Marques Colston - Wide Receiver, Hofstra
Simply put, the best wide receiver to ever play for the Saints. Gets the nod over another really good wide-out in Eric Martin.
8. Toi Cook - Cornerback, Stanford
Like Round 6, not much to work with. Cook was a solid starting player for the Saints (1987-1993) and he played 11 seasons in the NFL with New Orleans, San Francisco 49ers and Carolina Panthers.
9. Brian Hansen - Punter, Sioux Falls
Hansen was the Saints punter from 1984-1988. He went on to play with the New England Patriots, Cleveland Browns, New York Jets and Washington Redskins. Made the Pro Bowl in 1984 with the Saints. Throw back players like defensive end Joe Owens and fullback Jim Otis, who was cut by the Saints, but played well for the St. Louis Cardinals, were considered.
10. Hokie Gajan - Fullback, LSU
My old buddy Hokie gets the nod for the best tenth round pick. He was a tough, gritty, hard-charger who was a terrific lead blocker for George Rogers. Averaged 6.03 yards per rush as a Saint.
11. Bob Pollard - Defensive Tackle, Weber State
On some bad Saint teams Pollard gave his all each Sunday. He was a really good defensive player on some very poor Saints teams in the 1970’s.
12. Jim Wilks - Defensive Tackle, San Diego State
Wilks, like Marques Colston, never made the Pro Bowl, but he played 13 strong seasons for the Saints from 1981-1993.
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