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Saints did a great job reading the draft board, making moves to get their guys

Posted on 5/1/23 at 1:29 pm
Posted by hellsu
Northshore via Westbank
Member since Jan 2009
3952 posts
Posted on 5/1/23 at 1:29 pm
LINK
We’ve got to give credit where it’s due: the New Orleans Saints had a good read on which way the wind was blowing during the 2023 NFL draft, and several times they made moves at the right time to get out in front of some leaguewide trends. It may have been costly (and some experts may disagree with their final pick), but time and again the Saints got their guy before their competition had a chance to snap them up.
It started in the third round, when the Saints picked TCU running back Kendre Miller at No. 71 overall. No other running back had been picked to that point since UCLA star Zach Charbonnet was chosen by the Seattle Seahawks at No. 52, midway through the second round. But three more running backs would be taken off the board in Round 3 after the Saints picked Miller: Tulane’s Tyjae Spears at No. 81 (to the Tennessee Titans), Texas A&M’s Devon Achane at No. 84 (to the Miami Dolphins), and Auburn’s Tank Bigsgy at No. 88 (to the Jacksonville Jaguars).

Then the Saints shocked everyone by pulling off a trade before the next day’s picks even got started, vaulting up a dozen spots to get the first pick in Round 4 at No. 103. They used that opportunity to get their top offensive lineman, Old Dominion’s Nick Saldiveri (a college right tackle who is confident he can play anywhere), the first of ten blockers who would be going off the board by No. 122. Six of them were picked by the time the Saints would have made their initial selection at No. 115.
But wait, there’s more. The Saints traded again in the fourth round to get in position at No. 127 — this time targeting Fresno State quarterback Jake Haener. That kicked off a run on passers that continued into Round 5, with seven of them being taken in the next 37 selections (and five by No. 140). The Los Angeles Rams spun their decision to pick Georgia’s Stetson Bennett at No. 128 as him being their favorite quarterback in the class, but nobody’s buying that. He was a consensus seventh-round prospect and it’s blatantly obvious the Saints snaked them to get Haener, sending the Rams into a panic. Maybe.

At any rate, the Saints got their guys. And more often than not they made their picks at the right time. New Orleans catches a lot of heat for trading up so often and valuing picks and prospects differently than the rest of the league, and though it’s too early to say with certainty it sure looks like they made the right call this time.

I can get on board with what he's saying here.
BTW I think that we picked up the best value for a running back when we chose Kendre Miller at no.71 overall. He is not necessarily a bulldozer at the LOS but if you get him beyond the LOS he is a load to bring down. He is also someone Todd Mcshay was high on.
Posted by SaintlyTiger88
Louisiana
Member since Apr 2013
2145 posts
Posted on 5/1/23 at 1:33 pm to
I definitely feel like it was a solid draft! Especially since the Saints addressed the most important area (D line) with the first 2 picks. Excited to see the potential the offensive picks will bring.
Posted by goatmilker
Castle Anthrax
Member since Feb 2009
70963 posts
Posted on 5/1/23 at 1:36 pm to
Its why I said it may be the best draft in years. The top 5 guys all look to be keepers. As to Miller he has a great second gear past the line looking at his (film). And like every new RB if you learn to block and catch you can be a 3 down back.
Posted by Hot Carl
Prayers up for 3
Member since Dec 2005
61232 posts
Posted on 5/1/23 at 1:43 pm to
quote:

Its why I said it may be the best draft in years. The top 5 guys all look to be keepers. As to Miller he has a great second gear past the line looking at his (film). And like every new RB if you learn to block and catch you can be a 3 down back.


Jacob Hester has the morning Baton Rouge show, but he also does a national 3-hour CFB show every day, so he watches a lot of tape and games, and because it was his position, is very knowledgeable about the RB position and all the guys in this class.

This morning, he said Miller was his favorite pick by the Saints. He had him rated as the 4th best RB in the entire class.
Posted by Hangover Haven
Metry
Member since Oct 2013
29907 posts
Posted on 5/1/23 at 2:11 pm to
But they only had three guys and a fat chick in the draft room...
This post was edited on 5/1/23 at 2:12 pm
Posted by Chad504boy
4 posts
Member since Feb 2005
172396 posts
Posted on 5/1/23 at 2:24 pm to
quote:

he said Miller was his favorite pick by the Saints. He had him rated as the 4th best RB in the entire class.



well he was 4th off the draft board.
Posted by saints5021
Louisiana
Member since Jul 2010
18215 posts
Posted on 5/1/23 at 2:49 pm to
Article is spot on. The Saints started a run on RBs, OGs, and QBs, with 3 straight picks. That is where you want to be in a draft.

The opposite side is the Jets, who sat and watched all the OTs go off the board and panic-picked undersized McDonald at 15.
Posted by Hot Carl
Prayers up for 3
Member since Dec 2005
61232 posts
Posted on 5/1/23 at 3:31 pm to
quote:

well he was 4th off the draft board.


Exactly. Didn’t stop the melt, though. But it wouldn’t be a Saints Talk draft weekend without it.

And he’s only 20.
This post was edited on 5/1/23 at 3:40 pm
Posted by Geauxldilocks
Member since Aug 2018
4123 posts
Posted on 5/1/23 at 5:03 pm to
(no message)
Posted by pankReb
Defending National Champs Fan
Member since Mar 2009
69307 posts
Posted on 5/5/23 at 3:01 am to
Saints made some solid moves in Free Agency and the draft this season. Hopefully they've gotten their collective heads out of their asses.

Last few years have looked like an absolute shite-show. Reminded me of years ago when I first tried Franchise Mode on Madden and had no idea how the salary system worked.
Posted by Boboss504
Member since Mar 2022
77 posts
Posted on 5/5/23 at 8:11 am to
And their guys suck
Posted by FMtTXtiger
Member since Oct 2018
4556 posts
Posted on 5/6/23 at 10:32 am to
going after the guys you want doesn't mean they are the right guys. But i get your point.

Posted by blafayette
Lafayette
Member since Jan 2014
703 posts
Posted on 5/9/23 at 12:58 pm to
So you're sayin' teams pick guys they don't want just to make sure they get Mel's Best Available?
Posted by 3PieceSpicy
Metairie
Member since Jan 2021
7187 posts
Posted on 5/9/23 at 3:02 pm to
The homerism is getting to be off the charts. I think it was a solid class, but let’s lay off as labeling the Saints as masterminds just yet.
Posted by hellsu
Northshore via Westbank
Member since Jan 2009
3952 posts
Posted on 5/9/23 at 11:20 pm to
quote:

The homerism is getting to be off the charts. I think it was a solid class, but let’s lay off as labeling the Saints as masterminds just yet.


I don't see anywhere within that article from John Sigler or my remark that ever refereed to the Saints as being masterminds. You have a lot of nerve coming on a Saints board and throwing around the word homerism after posting this bullshite refering to the Foster Moreau offer in the previous thread
quote:

Personally I want him to join Joe Burrow and the Bengals as they arguably need TE more than the Saints and Moreau is a piece that can put them over the top. Moreau makes us a 9 win team instead of an 8 win team. I’d rather see him have some real success than toil here w Carr and Dennis Allen tbh....


Posted by 3PieceSpicy
Metairie
Member since Jan 2021
7187 posts
Posted on 5/10/23 at 12:15 am to
“Coming on a Saints board”

I’ve been a Saints fan since 1994 essentially. Have had season tickets multiple years. Etc.

Not sure how my post you quoted has anything to do with homerism. I went to Mississippi State University and I’m simply a realistic Saints fan. Do I like Joe Burrow? Of course. Do I keep up with the Saints and Bengals? Yes. Am I familiar with both of their situations and needs? Yes.

You might not have said the word mastermind “reading the room”, but the media and fans beating their chests about this draft class before we even have Rookie Minicamps is something else.

It’s a solid class. We should probably wait to crown it though. There is a good chance, we wasted draft capital to pick a QB. But the article acted like we were geniuses for moving up and picking a 6th rd projected QB in the 4th rd. I realize projections don’t mean much, but it still looks silly on the surface to champion that move 1 week after the draft.
Posted by VictoryHill
Alabama
Member since Nov 2013
3237 posts
Posted on 5/10/23 at 6:25 am to
quote:

There is a good chance, we wasted draft capital to pick a QB.

You're reaching. We're talking about a late 4th round pick where the hit rate is probably less than 5%.

"wAsTeD dRaFt CaPiTaL"
Posted by goatmilker
Castle Anthrax
Member since Feb 2009
70963 posts
Posted on 5/10/23 at 8:52 am to
It seems we were smart in moving up several times to take the player at the top of the next tier. QB was one of them. From Irelands post interview the FO was ecstatic over who fell and who they were able to move up and get without paying a lot. Time will tell. And I would rather the Saints get the players they want not the bengals. Call me crazy
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