re: The worst (Saints) draft ever?

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I saw an article a few years back, but have not been able to find it again. It basically took all of the pics that were traded, selected the best player that was selected within ten spots of each pick, and then compared them as "would you rather have these players, or RW". It appeared that getting Williams was the better move.

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The players available to the Saints had they stood pat and drafted in 1999 may be as you say. Possibly a case could be made that taking Williams was better than this option. We will never know, sometimes a player is a perfect fit and becomes a Colston if he's put into the right situation.

But using the '99 draft choices was not the only option Ditka had when he made the trade of all the '99 picks to the Skins; the Saints could have packaged choice(s) for existing players or for future draft picks. Williams was (and is) a fragile personality who's lack of off-field attributes severely hampered the team on and off the field. The high price for him penalized the franchise for years. The fact that the team made the playoffs in 2000 means that they were close to be good. The real penalty for the 1999 Draft fiasco was paid in seasons 2001-2005 when the value for those picks was missing to the club.

I will admit that those '68 & '69 Drafts were abysmal. I might have to change my vote.