re: With the Saints first pick of the 2013 NFL draft...

1. to insure they get Giovani Bernard- I don't think Bernard goes that high. Talk is that perhaps no RB will go in the 1st Rd. Make a case for a different player. Why get him when ya prolly could get Chris Ivory for a 5th Rder? PS- I'd rate Cincys top need as SS. Their current position might be good enough to get either Bernard or top ranked SS Vacarro.

2. Also receive Cincinnati's 2nd round pick that they got from Oakland which is the 5th pick in the second- does not compute. Use the Draft Pick Value Chart. 15 to 24ish is about 300pts. That would equal closer to Cincy's 2nd Rder. Even then the Saints might have to throw in a late rounder.

As far as Elam the tale of how a safety might fit into to draft needs would hinge on if Harper happened to be let go. I doubt that. More likely renegotiated. But if he was then Safety moves up the need list dramatically. SS Kenny Vacarro Texas seems to be vying for the top safety spot with Reid (FS). In early rankings I see Elam ranked on big boards at 52, 35, 44. Looks like a stretch in the 1st Rd and surely gone by the current 3rd Rd spot. He actually looks like his value would fall somewhere in the range of the Saints vacated draft spot.

BPA teams like the Saints don't trade to get players at a reach. It is when one starts to drop significantly below where you had him pegged that you make the move to try and get them. In other words, you believe even paying the premium to move up you still believe the player is a value pick.

This scenario is trading down but trading down to reach for a player prolly at least 10 spots higher than his value.

I could see the correct trade down value #15 for #24ish + #56ish. The more likley scenario is that no position need or value fit at #15 and you thought the odds of a player you could use just as much at #24. THAT might be a Kenny Vacarro, Montgomery, Ansah, Hunt, etc