With the 9th Pick in the 2025 draft, who should the Saints select? (merged)

[St. Widge]

“PeNn sTatE eXpOseD AsHtoN JeAntY”

DovKleinman is a troll account that was recently purchased by someone who wanted to use it to troll people. So mission accomplished I guess.

 

[tyler735]

That's fair. I don't doubt that he has breakaway speed but that's really of limited value as an NFL RB since it's difficult to get an opportunity to use breakaway speed as a RB in the NFL. I think for NFL RBs quickness, contact balance, and power are more important. Jeanty clearly has power, but I'm not sure his quickness and contact balance is at an elite level. It think he's going to be a very good player, but I'm not sure he's going to be an elite player and I would rather trade down for more picks and take a RB later that might not be as good as Jeanty but would have better value than Jeanty at #10.

While I agree that breakaway speed isn't the most important trait for a RB, that wasn't what was being discussed. The other poster claimed Jeanty didn't have breakaway speed. I showed quite a bit of evidence proving otherwise. Generally speaking though, I do agree that burst, vision, contact balance, and quickness are some of the most important traits in a RB. Jeanty has every trait a person would want in an RB including pass catching versatility as well. He should be an elite RB in the NFL. However, I'm not sure the Saints need to go that direction at #10 either. Helps there are some other really talented RB's in this draft that should be really good options (even if they aren't Jeanty caliber).

Of course, if you think Jeanty is going to be an elite NFL RB in the mold of Faulk, Sanders, LT, etc. you would want to take him at #10 and would be right to do so. I just don't think he's at that level and would, therefore, prefer to trade down than take him if he is BPA.

I just don't think that's a fair comparison. I don't think Tetairoa Mcmillan is Randy Moss, Terrell Owens, Calvin Johnson, etc., but I'd be thrilled to have him as he's probably my at the top of my wishlist at pick 10. Whatever position we draft at #10, we won't be getting a player of that caliber as they are incredibly few and far between. Getting a high quality starter at pick 10 is the most important thing regardless of position.

If you have a complete team the way the Lions were two years ago, maybe Jeanty is the final piece, but he's not the final piece for this team and there should be more value elsewhere.

This I agree with. However, if we do draft Jeanty, I will be far from disappointed as we will have added a top tier talent despite it maybe not being at a position we needed currently.

 

[tyler735]

DovKleinman is a troll account that was recently purchased by someone who wanted to use it to troll people. So mission accomplished I guess.

There are tons of people on here, and other social media websites trying to claim Jeanty was "exposed" playing against a good defense in the game vs Penn State. Doesn't matter if Dov Kleinman is a knucklehead or not, the fact remains that Jeanty did everything he conceivably could given the circumstances of Boise St's OL vs Penn State's DL. Dude broke 16 tackles on his rushing attempts and 3 broken tackles on his catches. Those are absurd numbers.

 

[Deuuuuce]

That's fair. I don't doubt that he has breakaway speed but that's really of limited value as an NFL RB since it's difficult to get an opportunity to use breakaway speed as a RB in the NFL. I think for NFL RBs quickness, contact balance, and power are more important. Jeanty clearly has power, but I'm not sure his quickness and contact balance is at an elite level. It think he's going to be a very good player, but I'm not sure he's going to be an elite player and I would rather trade down for more picks and take a RB later that might not be as good as Jeanty but would have better value than Jeanty at #10.

I get what you’re saying about breakaway speed being less important in the NFL, but if you’re going to be drafted top ten it should be a part of your game. The ability to turn a game upside down on one play is huge. The top backs in the league all do it. Saquon, Henry, Gibbs, Jonathan Taylor, Bijan, Mccaffery. Obviously homerun speed isn’t everything, but if you’re going as high as Jeanty, you need to have it, and I think he does.

 

[St. Widge]

While I agree that breakaway speed isn't the most important trait for a RB, that wasn't what was being discussed. The other poster claimed Jeanty didn't have breakaway speed. I showed quite a bit of evidence proving otherwise. Generally speaking though, I do agree that burst, vision, contact balance, and quickness are some of the most important traits in a RB. Jeanty has every trait a person would want in an RB including pass catching versatility as well. He should be an elite RB in the NFL. However, I'm not sure the Saints need to go that direction at #10 either. Helps there are some other really talented RB's in this draft that should be really good options (even if they aren't Jeanty caliber).


I just don't think that's a fair comparison. I don't think Tetairoa Mcmillan is Randy Moss, Terrell Owens, Calvin Johnson, etc., but I'd be thrilled to have him as he's probably my at the top of my wishlist at pick 10. Whatever position we draft at #10, we won't be getting a player of that caliber as they are incredibly few and far between. Getting a high quality starter at pick 10 is the most important thing regardless of position.

This I agree with. However, if we do draft Jeanty, I will be far from disappointed as we will have added a top tier talent despite it maybe not being at a position we needed currently.

I mean, it's possible that we end up on the clock at #10 with Jeanty as the BPA and no team is offering good value in a trade down. If that's the case, you have to take Jeanty. I just think it wouldn't be a very good position for this team to be in because I think you can get very good RBs later on in this draft and it would be much better if the BPA was McMillan, Graham, Will Johnson, Abdul Carter, Campbell, or Banks.

But, it does look to me that Jeanty is one of the most likely guys in the top 10 to be available when we pick.

 

[St. Widge]

I get what you’re saying about breakaway speed being less important in the NFL, but if you’re going to be drafted top ten it should be a part of your game. The ability to turn a game upside down on one play is huge. The top backs in the league all do it. Saquon, Henry, Gibbs, Jonathan Taylor, Bijan, Mccaffery. Obviously homerun speed isn’t everything, but if you’re going as high as Jeanty, you need to have it, and I think he does.

I certainly agree that a top 10 back has to have breakaway speed and that Jeanty has it. I just question if his quickness and contact balance are elite. And I think a top 10 back needs those to be elite too. I also have some concerns that the pounding he took in college is going to make him injury prone and/or shorted his career.

I'll also note that 2 of the backs you named above as the top backs in the NFL were not 1st round picks. I just think there is a lot of value, especially in this draft, in RBs past the 1st round.

 

[3ParStillDriver]

Jeanty, Tyler Warren, Kenneth Grant, Deon Walker or Landon Jackson. Jackson may be a reach here depending on his measurables and combine. Its quite likely he's going to jump up draft boards when his height, length, weight and shuttle speed come in. The question (IMO) is how much.

 

[SWJJ]

I get what you’re saying about breakaway speed being less important in the NFL, but if you’re going to be drafted top ten it should be a part of your game. The ability to turn a game upside down on one play is huge. The top backs in the league all do it. Saquon, Henry, Gibbs, Jonathan Taylor, Bijan, Mccaffery. Obviously homerun speed isn’t everything, but if you’re going as high as Jeanty, you need to have it, and I think he does.

All these guys (Except Henry) have sub 4.5 speed. They are all faster than Jeanty.

 

[baarbogast]

If Jeanty is there at 10 what do you think Dallas would give up for him?

I have seen both Cincy and Houston going after him. We may be able to get an auction going,

 

[Deuuuuce]

All these guys (Except Henry) have sub 4.5 speed. They are all faster than Jeanty.

That’s weird because he looks fast in the open field on tape. If he’s right at 4.5 that’s still pretty dang fast.

 

[Snakehead]

I get what you’re saying about breakaway speed being less important in the NFL, but if you’re going to be drafted top ten it should be a part of your game. The ability to turn a game upside down on one play is huge. The top backs in the league all do it. Saquon, Henry, Gibbs, Jonathan Taylor, Bijan, Mccaffery. Obviously homerun speed isn’t everything, but if you’re going as high as Jeanty, you need to have it, and I think he does.

People say breakaway speed is not needed when they have been conditioned not to expect it based on the team's RB1 who doesn't have break away speed. Ask Philly, Atlanta, Baltimore, Detroit, SF, NJ Jets, Indy and Cincy who all have RBs with breakaway speed. All of these team's added a RB with breakaway speed as their previous ones didn't have it. Breakaway speed absolutely matters.

 

[Snakehead]

I have seen both Cincy and Houston going after him. We may be able to get an auction going,

Jeanty with Chase Brown is a ridiculous combo.

 

[Deuuuuce]

People say breakaway speed is not needed when they have been conditioned not to expect it based on the team's RB1 who doesn't have break away speed. Ask Philly, Atlanta, Baltimore, Detroit, SF, NJ Jets, Indy and Cincy who all have RBs with breakaway speed. All of these team's added a RB with breakaway speed as their previous ones didn't have it. Breakaway speed absolutely matters.

NFL defenses are better equipped to stop big plays but it’s good to have a player who can take it the distance when the defense gets caught out of position. Someone like Gibbs is a perfect example. Adding him took the Lions to the next level.

 

[tyler735]

That’s weird because he looks fast in the open field on tape. If he’s right at 4.5 that’s still pretty dang fast.

He looks fast because he has legit top end speed and he is just as fast as many of those listed RB's. Jeanty has regularly his 21+ MPH on his long runs. I believe 21.8 is the fastest he's been clocked which is faster than some on that list of top tier RB's.