With the 9th Pick in the 2025 draft, who should the Saints select? (merged) (5 Viewers)

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IceHot said:
Not only that but it will be hard to tell what position we will have as our biggest need in 2 or 3 years when the pick we make this year matures.
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I think (but could be wrong) that you’re being facetious, if not…..I’m hoping we have a very strong draft and have some players come in ala 2017 and make an immediate impact. This happens all the time. Not all draft picks take years to mature or make an impact.

The team needs help all over, if you disagree with that then that’s your prerogative. 😊

I’m excited and hopeful for this upcoming season, more so than I have been since Sean left. No matter how the chips fall.
 
TruSaint said:
Like I said tell me exactly where you would use him in any of our formations now that we have Chase and Granderson. I like Walker, a lot, I’m just saying as of right now it would be hard to get him on the field
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You don't just draft for this year. But, I'd put him in as an off ball LB in the Nickel or Dime that you can use to blitz if you want. I'd use him as an occasional Edge in the Nickle and Dime. He might even play some OLB or ILB in the base 3-4. The guy is very versatile which I think makes him a great fit for Staley's scheme.

At worse he's good depth this year at off ball LB and Edge. Or, maybe he beats out Werner this year. At any rate, the draft shouldn't just be about this year and long term, we need impact LBs that can blitz and we could always use some help on the Edge. Walker is exactly the kind of tweener Edge that can be fit into Staley's system and he can play off ball LB.

#9 might be a bit high for him, but he's a good player and it wouldn't be a crazy pick at #9 depending on who is on the board at the time.
 
St. Widge said:
You don't just draft for this year. But, I'd put him in as an off ball LB in the Nickel or Dime that you can use to blitz if you want. I'd use him as an occasional Edge in the Nickle and Dime. He might even play some OLB or ILB in the base 3-4. The guy is very versatile which I think makes him a great fit for Staley's scheme.

At worse he's good depth this year at off ball LB and Edge. Or, maybe he beats out Werner this year. At any rate, the draft shouldn't just be about this year and long term, we need impact LBs that can blitz and we could always use some help on the Edge. Walker is exactly the kind of tweener Edge that can be fit into Staley's system and he can play off ball LB.

#9 might be a bit high for him, but he's a good player and it wouldn't be a crazy pick at #9 depending on who is on the board at the time.
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For sure, I know you don’t draft for this year but we literally just restructured Granderson and signed Chase. If you wanna use him as an off ball linebacker you can, Stanley runs a 4-2 and 5-1 in the nickel, so in the 4-2 you’d have to take Werner off the field, which is fine, or 5-1 you’d be taking out DD, which is also fine. I just don’t know if I feel comfortable using the 9th pick on an off ball LB unless he’s the next Pat Willis
 
The more I think about it the more I think Sanders could be the guy just based off of the value of the qb position. Jeanty would be great and an immediate impact but good chance he isnt there. We know for sure a year from now our biggest need will be a starting qb so not a mid draft pick and probably not Rattler unless we want to move backwards. In that case we will be looking to free agency where the Sam Darnolds of the league pull in multi year huge contracts. Another point is this team desperately needs an identity/face of the franchise and love or hate Sanders he would happily take the spotlight.
 
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TruSaint said:
For sure, I know you don’t draft for this year but we literally just restructured Granderson and signed Chase. If you wanna use him as an off ball linebacker you can, Stanley runs a 4-2 and 5-1 in the nickel, so in the 4-2 you’d have to take Werner off the field, which is fine, or 5-1 you’d be taking out DD, which is also fine. I just don’t know if I feel comfortable using the 9th pick on an off ball LB unless he’s the next Pat Willis
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Staley's 4-2-5 often looks like a 2-4-5 because he often stands up the Edges on the line. I'm not sure Granderson is actually a good fit for that where as I think Walker is because he can both rush and drop into coverage to help you confuse the QB. He also plays some 3-3-5 Nickel where one or both of the LBs line up as a stand up Edge. Walker is a better fit for that than Granderson.

Plus, Staley already said a few days ago that he wants to have a multiple defense that adjust based on who they play so that means he needs hybrid players. Walker is a great fit for that kind of defense. We see it now in Philly with the Fangio scheme that Staley more or less runs.

Anyway, I'm not saying he should be the pick at #9 but if Moore/Staley think he's worth it I'd have not issue with the pick since I would think they would have a big role in mind for him if he's being picked at #9. I'd rather take him higher if we trade back and I'd rather take Warren or Tett, but I do think he's guy that could turn out to be wortht the #9 pick down the road.

Honestly, he's the kind of guy that likely has no place in DA's defense but I think he's a perfect fit for the things Staley does.
 
SigFreudianSlip said:
I think (but could be wrong) that you’re being facetious, if not…..I’m hoping we have a very strong draft and have some players come in ala 2017 and make an immediate impact. This happens all the time. Not all draft picks take years to mature or make an impact.

The team needs help all over, if you disagree with that then that’s your prerogative. 😊

I’m excited and hopeful for this upcoming season, more so than I have been since Sean left. No matter how the chips fall.
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We share plenty of similar thoughts ....but Im not being facetious as I dont perceive a player makes an impact based on his position being needed or not.

A player makes an impact because a player is talented, well coached, and willing to work.

Pick a position of need and what you get is a position you still need.

Here are two simple questions and two simple answers....

What was the best Saints Draft Class?
Most would argue it was 2017.

What were our positions of need in 2017?
Dont know; doesnt matter.

See how uncoupled those two concepts are.

I believe very heavily in the LeRoy Kelly Theory...
HoFers are often drafted without regard to need.

As it turns out only 22 of the 59 Superbowl Champions got starting reps from their 1st round draft pick. What this tells me is what a player does in his rookie year isnt nearly as important as what he does in subsequent years. Which once again reinforces the thought that this years positions of need arent really relevant to what we expect from our draft picks career.

I also believe heavily in the Blackjack Theory of drafting but that is another discussion.
 
woohoosaint said:
Field Yates has us taking LSU OT Will Campbell at #9...

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I just can’t see them not making a sexy pic how disgruntled the base has been and with every playmaker on our offense has injury problems the trenches is important but if we end up depending on bub means mason tipton kendre “my leg” miller
 
IceHot said:
We share plenty of similar thoughts ....but Im not being facetious as I dont perceive a player makes an impact based on his position being needed or not.

A player makes an impact because a player is talented, well coached, and willing to work.

Pick a position of need and what you get is a position you still need.

Here are two simple questions and two simple answers....

What was the best Saints Draft Class?
Most would argue it was 2017.

What were our positions of need in 2017?
Dont know; doesnt matter.

See how uncoupled those two concepts are.

I believe very heavily in the LeRoy Kelly Theory...
HoFers are often drafted without regard to need.

As it turns out only 22 of the 59 Superbowl Champions got starting reps from their 1st round draft pick. What this tells me is what a player does in his rookie year isnt nearly as important as what he does in subsequent years. Which once again reinforces the thought that this years positions of need arent really relevant to what we expect from our draft picks career.

I also believe heavily in the Blackjack Theory of drafting but that is another discussion.
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I was unfamiliar with that theory. That is very cool. I’ll check into that and the Blackjack Theory as I’m also unfamiliar with that.

I also agree wholeheartedly that you draft BPA and not just for need. I’m not being facetious when I say I believe we have needs almost everywhere, so it would all end up BPA in this draft. Imo.

Spot on about most draft picks taking time to develop, couldn’t agree more. There are many exceptions tho, we had two in 2017. I’m hoping for another draft like that, I know that is unlikely tho.
 
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