2010 NFL Draft: Saints Say Hello To Patrick Robinson, Goodbye To Darren Sharper?

When Drew Brees announced that the Saints had picked a cornerback, I screamed.

And not an excited, jump up and down kind of scream.

It was more of a throw the remote through the wall and slam my head on the coffee table kind of scream.

Didn't the New Orleans Saints pick a cornerback in the first round last year? Don't the Saints own one of the best cornerback tandems in the league with Jabari Greer and Tracy Porter?

As I shook my head and wondered why they didn't pick either Sergio Kindle or Daryl Washington to play outside linebacker, I began to realize a few things:

1) Blitz, Blitz, Blitz

Gregg Williams loves to blitz almost as often as Tim Tebow likes to talk about how much he's a quarterback and not an H-back.

The more quality cover guys you have, the more often you can send the house and force the quarterback to make a poor throw.

2) Depth Issues

After Greer and Porter, New Orleans' talent at cornerback drops significantly. If you don't believe me, go watch Week 13 against Washington when they were without both starters.

Malcolm Jenkins is not a No. 1 corner and may not be a number two corner in this league, but there is a spot for him. More on Jenkins in a minute.

Randall Gay is serviceable but he's a dime back. He defended just five passes all season in 2009.

3) See ya, Sharper?

Darren Sharper was one of the saviors of the Saints' defense last year. He picked off nine passes and took three back for six points.

He's now the Saints' highest profile unrestricted free agent. He's undoubtedly looking for the highest bidder, but how much do you pay a free safety who's going to be 35 in November?

Take a close look Sharper's numbers from 2009 and it may be nearly impossible for him to have the same impact in 2010.

Seven of his nine interceptions last year came against quarterbacks who were in their first year starting in the league and five of those picks came against rookies.

This year the Saints' schedule isn't so favorable.

As of now, I anticipate New Orleans playing against only one first-year starter and that's Sam Bradford of the St. Louis Rams.

As mentioned earlier, there's a spot for Malcolm Jenkins to start and it's here at free safety.

If anything, the selection of Patrick Robinson and Jenkins' presence give the Saints a little bit of leverage in negotiations with Sharper.

Now it's time to dust off that 2007 Robinson highlight film because that's the last time he intercepted more than one pass in a season.