re: If Brock Bowers or Rome Odunze are still on the board at 14, do you take one of them?

this is a best player available pick, and we don't have a grading system as fans.

But we know the Saints have sucked arse picking linemen and that's why they are chasing their tale regardless of if it's a 1st or a 2nd round pick,

opposing TE's kicked the Saints D arse at times last season and really showed in games when the Saints were out classed. The Lions and Vikings game come to mind.

Learn what got you beat and turn it against the opponent.

You hired a brand new offensive staff for a reason. I'd go with whoever they think will be best for the organization not just in '25, but going forward. If that's a LT, fine. If it's Browers, that's fine too. I don't love Ozunze there, but if they do, fine.

You know they've been watching so much film on the guys we have and guys available. Maybe they like a different type of OL and Saldivari is who they want to win the LG position. Maybe they think they can turn Penning into something. Maybe they think they can get an OL at 45 that could fit their system as well as whoever's available at 14. You committed to the the entire offensive staff and gave them carte blanche to do what they need--give them the agency to make the call.

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There's no way you take a Tight end over a starting left tackle unless maybe you know he's going to be the next kelce.

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Well Bowers is arguably the best TE prospect to come out ever. So if one is “going to be the next Kelce” it’s him. And for a team who cannot afford to miss on this pick, likely the safest guy you can take right there.

The Saints taking any OT outside of Alt should give you the willies. We are a few years removed from them identifying Penning as their LT of the future and giving valuable assets to move up to get him. You cannot miss on another OT inside the top 20

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Well Bowers is arguably the best TE prospect to come out ever.

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Yeah this isn't even like a freak-project like Pitts.

Bowers was dominant in college from day 1. He's like Kelce in that he's basically a WR playing TE.

This is a deep OL class but it lacks top tier OT talent. Good prospects but no real great ones.

Bowers is a unicorn TE prospect. 2-3 tiers above the tiers the OTs find themselves. I haven't looked deep at this draft class but I think the only elite-tier OL is that C from Oregon...but he's a C.

Exactly. If an immediate impact player isn't there at 14, and the top OT's are gone, it would almost make the most sense to trade back a few spots imo. You get a similar talent OL anyway.

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Well Bowers is arguably the best TE prospect to come out ever. So if one is “going to be the next Kelce” it’s him. And for a team who cannot afford to miss on this pick, likely the safest guy you can take right there. The Saints taking any OT outside of Alt should give you the willies. We are a few years removed from them identifying Penning as their LT of the future and giving valuable assets to move up to get him. You cannot miss on another OT inside the top 20

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I agree. You’ve changed my mind. With our history of misses on lineman it probably would be a better play getting someone like Bowers. We really need someone impactful this year from our first rounder. Carr likes throwing to tight ends.

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Exactly, we’re not a contender. Go get a player who can be a core piece in the future because he’s an elite talent. Don’t grab an OL just because you have to. Unless you’re getting a top 5ish sure fire LT.

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I agree. OT's are a dicey pick, no matter what round they get selected in. But when you watch what an elite TE can do for an offense (or to a defense, if you prefer), those don't come around often.

Think of what Kelce has done for a decade. Or, if you prefer the obvious, take Kittle. Or go back a bit and look at Tony Gonzales, Jimmy Graham, or even all the way back to Ozzie Newsome. There are others, but those are the ones that come to mind immediately as playmakers worth their weight in gold to the teams they were on.

IMO, elite TE's can have a bigger impact on an offense than any other position except QB. The best ones also seem to have a broader skillset than most top-shelf receivers as well. Kelce and Tony G could run like receivers, even if they weren't/aren't speed demons. They also had/have the bulk to bully DB's and LB's, and even block (if they're so inclined).

IMO, the only thing an elite receiver has over an elite catching TE is speed.

Elite TE's also seem to have a longer productive shelf-life than elite receivers - Kelce and Tony G were/are clowning DB's after a decade in the NFL. So, in that vein, I'd take Bowers in a heartbeat over Odunze if he's available.

Also, and just my opinion, but it seems like the best way to get a quality OT these days is to let someone else draft him, develop him, and then pay him to come play for you. It takes a few years for most quality OT's to develop and prove they were worth a 1st-round pick. Why not go shopping for a proven commodity when you can be sure of what you're getting?

You can't really do the same with TE's because elite TE's are scarcer than really good/elite OT's. Teams that have them rarely let them go without a fight. OT's are let go all the time, however, if they want to pursue a bigger paycheck.

So, unless Alt somehow falls to us, if Bowers is available he's a take - again, in my opinion.

Need OL unless you got a hard on last year seeing Carr get sacked 4-5 times a game

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Bowers is a dude and a difference maker, where should he be selected? Where would the Kelce, Andrews, Laporta, Kittle types go if they redrafted their classes?

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I think if there was a redraft you would see more OL taken in front of TEs. Just look at their contracts. You just named multiple TEs taken in later rounds proving that they’re harder to predict. I do think bowers is a great pick and wouldn’t be upset at all if we took him. But I also thought the same about Pitts. There are busts at every position but I think OL is one of the easier ones to predict. Size, athleticism, experience, character traits is all you need to look at. They’re large bodies who’s job is to get in the way the defense. It’s not rocket science. There are also some great DEs that might fall to us. I’d prefer us build the trenches for the future. Carr can’t throw to a TE/WR if he’s flat on his back. And who knows when we’ll get a real franchise QB, those weapons we invested in could be washed by that point. I’m not anti Bowers I’m just answering your original OP.