'08
Draft Review:
Round
1 (#7): DT Sedrick Ellis, USC
Coming into the draft, the Saints realized that they were maybe a solid
defensive tackle away from contending for the playoffs again in 2008 and they
also recognised that there were two top prospects at the position and that they
would have to move to get one of them. In an ideal world they would have liked
Glenn Dorsey but that just wasn’t to be, so they focussed in on the big man
from USC who had an awesome Senior Bowl week where he was entirely unblockable.
Ellis totally dominated opposing offensive linemen, notching up 17.5 sacks in
his 3 years starting as a nose tackle – awesome stats for a guy at that
position. Ellis is strong, mean and tough and looks like being the missing
piece in the Saints defensive jigsaw.
Pick grade: A
Round 2 (#40): CB Tracy Porter, Indiana
Despite going out and getting Randall Gay in free agency, the Saints knew they
could still use some extra help in the secondary. Porter is a speedy cornerback
who loves flying to the football and making tackles time and again, which is something
the Saints need on their defense. He graded out as a solid second rounder and
went almost exactly where everyone expected him to be. He will likely need to
bulk up a bit in order to withstand the bumps and knocks which come with
playing in the NFL but I don’t doubt he will be a fixture at CB for the Saints
by the start of the 2009 season at the very latest.
Pick grade: A-
Round 5 (#144): DT DeMario Pressley, N.C. State
Having selected a defensive tackle with their first pick, the Saints came back
on day two and promptly selected another. Pressley is a big, strong DT with
good agility and the ability to make plays in the backfield. However, he caught
the injury bug somewhat as a senior meaning his draft stock slipped and thus he
is certainly a good value pick at this point. You do have to wonder whether the
knee injury will return or cause him any problems at all, but when you draft a
guy with good technique and physicality in the fifth round, you have to be
happy enough.
Pick grade: B+
Round 5 (#164): OT Carl Nicks, Nebraska
Draft day cannot have been a pleasant experience for Carl Nicks – a guy who
many thought would hear his name called in the middle of the second round ended
up waiting until the middle of the second day. Offensive tackle certainly isn’t
the Saints biggest need, but the value on Nicks at this point was far too good
for the Saints to pass him up. Nicks may not be the most polished of all the
offensive tackles that were in this draft, but he certainly has the talent to
become a quality starting RT at the very worst.
Pick grade: A
Round 6 (#178): K Tyler Mehlhaff, Wisconsin
I’m not exactly a big fan of drafting kickers since they are generally readily
available and the pick could potentially be better used elsewhere, but in
Mehlhaff the Saints did at least get the best one in this draft class. Mehlhaff
has a strong leg and is used to kicking in all weather conditions, so the
Saints will be hoping he can bring some consistency and accuracy to their
kicking game.
Pick grade: B-
Round 7 (#237): WR Adrian Arrington, Michigan
Despite all the offensive firepower they already have, the Saints could not
help trading back into the second day using a 2009 draft pick to come and pick
up the falling Arrington. Along with Mario Manningham, Arrington formed an
important part of the Michigan offense making several important catches. He has
very good hands and seems to have the knack of finding the ball no matter what.
However, the reason for his slide is likely to be character concerns – he has
been very close to being kicked off the team on occasions, including for an assault
in 2007. He may be a very good receiver, but is this the sort of guy you want
on your football team? I’m not so sure.
Pick grade: B-
With only 6 picks in the draft, you get the feeling the Saints have come out feeling
a little light this year. For a team lacking in defensive playmakers, I was
surprised that only the first three picks addressed this issue – I would have
expected them to look for more depth in the later rounds. Having said that, the
guys they picked all seem to be good choices and getting Carl Nicks as late as
they did is an absolute bargain. Have they done enough with this defense to
make the playoffs in 2008? Only time will tell us that.
Final grade: B+
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2008 Draft Review
Official New Orleans Saints Website