2009 B/R NFL Mock Draft, You Make The Call: New Orleans Saints

1. Detroit Lions: Andre Smith; Offensive Tackle, Alabama

2. St. Louis Rams: Eugene Monroe; Offensive Tackle, Virginia

3. Kansas City Chiefs: Aaron Curry; Outside Linebacker, Wake Forest

4. Seattle Seahawks: Michael Crabtree; Wide Receiver, Texas Tech

5. Cleveland Browns: Malcolm Jenkins; Cornerback, Ohio State

6. Cincinnati Bengals: B.J. Raji; Defensive Tackle, Boston College

7. Oakland Raiders: Jeremy Maclin; Wide Receiver, Missouri

8. Jacksonville Jaguars: Jason Smith; Offensive Tackle, Baylor

9. Green Bay Packers: Brian Orakpo; Defensive End/Outside Linebacker, Texas

10. San Francisco 49ers: Rey Maualuga; Middle Linebacker, USC

11. Buffalo Bills: Aaron Maybin; Defensive End, Penn State

12.  Denver Broncos:  Alphonso Smith; Cornerback, Wake Forest

With the 13th pick in the 2009 B/R NFL Mock Draft, the Washington Redskins have selected...Everette Brown; Defensive End, Florida State.  The New Orleans Saints are now on the clock.

A great pick by the Redskins nets them a proven pass rushing defensive end.  Brown has a unique ability to get pressure on the quarterback, and he will do well learning from Jason Taylor.

Now to New Orleans, where just two years ago the Saints were playing for the chance to go to the Super Bowl.  Since then, they have been steadily on the decline, but improved a little bit in 2008. 

Drew Brees and the offense are one of the NFL's best, but like many of the teams choosing early in this year's draft, the Achille's heel of the Saints is their awful defense.  They have a solid foundation of young talent with defensive linemen Will Smith and Sedrick Ellis, and will probably look to improve upon that side of the ball come April. 

Here are what I feel are the Saints' top needs heading into draft day.

1.  Outside Linebacker

2.  Cornerback

3.  Safety

4.  Center

5.  Middle Linebacker

You make the call, Saints fans!  Vote in the poll for who you think New Orleans should take with the 14th pick in this year's draft!

1.  James Laurinaitis; Middle Linebacker, Ohio State

In my mind, Laurinaitis is vastly overrated, but I hope he proves me wrong.  He was a tackling machine for the Buckeyes, and there is a chance the Saints could lose Jonathan Vilma to free agency.  The kid out of OSU would not be a bad consolation.

2.  Vontae Davis; Cornerback, Illinois

Davis is one of the more physically gifted players in the draft.  He has outstanding speed to go along with his size, and is very athletic.  The only knock on Davis is his underdeveloped coverage skills.  If he had established cover skills, he would be a top five pick in the draft.

3.  Brian Cushing; Outside Linebacker, USC

Scott Fujita is a solid veteran, and the Saints are reportedly going to get some help from Dan Morgan this year.  However, Cushing may be tough to pass on at this point.  He is a physical marvel, and he could skyrocket up draft boards after his performance at the up-coming NFL Scouting Combine.

4.  D.J. Moore; Cornerback, Vanderbilt

Moore is a very underrated prospect, who could make a big splash with his personal workouts.  He has all the tools to be an elite cornerback at the next level, which is something the Saints need desperately.

5.  Chris "Beanie" Wells; Running Back, Ohio State

This pick would be truly atrocious to Saint fans, but weirder things have happened on draft day.  I personally feel the Saints have unearthed a gem with Pierre Thomas as the new power back to replace Deuce McAllister, but Wells fits that same mold.  He is a powerful back with deceptive speed.  He will at the very least be considered for this pick.

There you have it, Saints fans. Vote in the poll for the player you think your team should take with the 14th overall pick in this year's draft!