Black and Gold X's and O's| What Kind of Player are the Saints Targeting?

As I wrote in Friday's column, the Saints main emphasis this offseason has to be on finishing—finishing plays, finishing drives, finishing drives, finishing on 3rd-and-short situations.

They've brought in some players in free agency who fit this bill. Now they need to bring in these same kind of players through the draft. Let's also not forget a rookie free agency, which begins literally the second that "Mr. Irrelevant" is selected.

With only four picks in the 2009 draft (as of Monday at 9:38 AM PT), the Saints will likely be actively searching for talent once the draft is completed.

This is an area with which the team has had success in recent years. Most notably, Pierre Thomas was acquired after the draft. He is now the presumed starting tailback going into training camp.

Without further adieu, here are a list of players the Saints should be targeting by round, or after the draft (This is also a little bit of a preview of my 2009 Draft Board, which I will publish on Friday).

First Round

Malcolm Jenkins, DB, Ohio State

He fits what the Saints want to do defensively, as he is able to pressure the QB on blitzes, hold up in coverage, and provide the versatility to play either corner or safety.

He has good ball skills and rarely gets beaten deep. Finally, his ceiling may not be high, but the likelihood of him being a bust is also not very high.

Alex Mack, C, California

Mack could very easily be the long-term solution at the center position, while he also provides the versatility to play either guard position. Mack has great initial quickness at the snap of the ball. He moves well in space, and he is physical.

As I mentioned, the team needs to improve in short-yardage situations. Mack can help with this because of his ability to quickly get off the ball and get lower than the defender he is blocking.

Second Round

I know the Saints do not currently have a second round pick. However, I do think that, if Moore or one of the other two are available, then the Saints would try to get these guys. I also see a trade out of the First Round as a possibility.

D.J. Moore, CB, Vanderbilt

I have Moore as a first-rounder. His size and somewhat poor offseason workouts have this gem falling quickly. Whoever picks him in the second round is getting an absolute bargain.

Shonn Greene, RB, Iowa

This is another player who I have as a first rounder. He is falling because of academic concerns and he only has one year of game film. Greene is both powerful and fast.

His conversion percentage of gaining the amount of yards expected based on down and distance is one of the best among all running backs in this draft. That's the kind of running back that the Saints should want.

Paul Kruger, DE, Utah

Kruger was just a red shirt sophomore this past season. But he is a little older and more mature since he went on a two-year Mormon mission.

More than that, though, is that he plays with a high-motor and intensity. He could potentially play as an outside linebacker. Either way, he would give the Saints some versatility, the ability to rush the passer, or to drop into coverage on some zone blitzes.

Third Round

I understand the Saints do not have a third round pick right now, but here are some players they may try to get if possible.

Gartrell Johnson, RB, Colorado State

Gartrell stood 5'10'' and 218 pounds at the combine. This is a little smaller than most would have expected. Nonetheless, it is nearly impossible to disregard Johnson's power. Here are the strengths he shows, which I wrote on his report:

Gartrell is a big, tough, and physical running back who excels after contact and in space. He is quick and agile, and can make the one-cut to excel through the hole.

He is tough, versatile, and an every-down player who does just about everything fundamentally correct, and who responded well to coaching in his senior season.

This is possible good news for the Saints. He could fall past the third round and could be sitting there in the fourth round. If he is, I'd love to have him in black and gold.

Jasper Brinkley, LB, South Carolina

Jasper is one of the most physical football players in the entire draft. He isn't the smoothest athlete ever, but when he has a chance to make a tackle, he won't just make the tackle. He will knock that player out.

I'm not sure how he would fit as an outside linebacker, but, with his talent and ability to finish plays, it may be worth taking a chance.

Antoine Caldwell, C, Alabama

Here are some of the things the Saints would like about the former Tide center:

Antoine is very quick off the ball. He has good size for the center position, and he moves well enough that he could easily play one of the guard positions. He gets his hands on defenders quickly and is able to redirect them in whichever direction he chooses.

He is intelligent and makes most of the line calls. He also is a very good student and citizen.

The center position is a strong one this year, and Caldwell is among the five best. He would be a very good value late in the third or early in the fourth.

Fourth Round

William Moore, S/OLB, Missouri

While I certainly am not in love with Moore as a player, I think that, if he is available in the fourth round and some of the others are not, then he would be a steal.

While, as a safety, he would be mostly an in-the-box player, as an OLB, he could provide tremendous versatility to play near the line of scrimmage. He could also drop into coverage.

Kaluka Maiava, LB, Southern California

Maiava may actually be my favorite of all the SC linebackers this season. He has a nose for the football and makes a lot of plays. I think he could fall this far, but he would be an absolute steal in the fourth round.

Korey Sperry, TE, Colorado State

I don't know if he could go this early or not, but I like his abilities both as an in-line blocker and as a stretch-the-field tight end. I think he could be one of the better tight ends in this draft.

A.Q. Shipley, C, Penn State

I think that the Saints need an upgrade at the center position. Shipley is a guy who is fat, but he is physical, strong, and can move his guy off the ball. He won't knock a lot of guys down, but will get the job done. He's limited in his ability to play other positions, but, if you can get a starting center in the fourth round, Shipley would be a good value.

Derek Pegues, S, Mississippi State

This is mere speculation that Pegues would be available here, but, if he is, then he should be the pick. Pegues is a key reason that the Bulldogs' defense excelled the past few years. He is good in deep coverage. He is a little small, but the guy can play.

If Darcell McBath from Texas Tech is available here, then he is a pretty comparable player with better size. He would also be a nice option.

Fifth Round

For the record, I know the Saints do not have a fifth round pick. But I'm going to tell you of some players who are expected to be drafted in that round who may be of interest to New Orleans.

Kevin Ellison, S, Southern California

Before Taylor Mays shocked the draft world and stayed for his senior season at USC, he was believed to be the top safety in the draft. And New Orleans was a rumored destination for him to begin his NFL career.

Now his teammate and partner in crime in the secondary could be headed for The Big Easy. Like Moore, he is better around the LOS, but, in time, he could excel in coverage with coaching and learning from Darren Sharper.

Ian Johnson, RB, Boise State

Most people remember him for his Fiesta Bowl theatrics. But Johnson has done more than that in his career in Idaho. He has been one of the most productive players in the entire country for three seasons.

His combine and Pro Day workouts only reinforced that this is a talented player, and a winner. I predict he will be successful at the NFL level.

Sixth Round

Again, the Saints do not currently possess a sixth round pick. But here are some guys they may like, which could cause them to trade into the round.

Arian Foster, RB, Tennessee

Foster had a poor senior season, but so did the Volunteers. Foster is a powerful yet quick back. His body and running style are similar to Chris "Beanie" Wells, but he plays with more passion and would be a steal in this round.

Emanuel Cook, S, South Carolina

Cook led a Gamecocks secondary (along with Captain Munnerlyn) to being one of the better passing defenses in the SEC. He probably will not last to this point, but, if he did, then he could easily be a guy worth taking a risk to obtain.

Mitch King, DT, Iowa

King is a high-motor guy which helped him be a productive DT at Iowa. He is not incredibly powerful, but is very quick, which could make him a good pass rusher.

Seventh Round

Chase Daniel, QB/Athlete, Missouri

Daniel is a guy whom I love, but he will fall terribly because of a lack of accuracy, arm strength, and height. He is a winner, and will likely find some way to play and stick in the NFL.

John Parker Wilson from Alabama could be picked up a round or two earlier and is probably a better fit for the NFL as a QB.

Terrill Byrd, DT/DE, Cincinnati

Byrd was a highly productive player at Cincinnati, whose stock falls mostly because of some character issues. However, the seventh round is where you draft guys like Byrd. I think that if he can stay out of trouble, then he could be a gem.

Corey Smith, OLB/S, Cincinnati

I love Cincinnati guys—it's true. Smith is small for an OLB, but could possibly move to safety, much like Adam Archuleta. I think he is better in coverage than Archuleta was, but not as physical. Once again, though, he was a productive player on a good Bearcat defense.

Free Agency

Kahlil Bell, RB, UCLA

Bell had some injury issues in college, but was productive when healthy. He's never had the burst necessary to be an every-down back. But he is big, powerful, and could be the solution as the short-yardage back.

Rusty Smith, QB, Florida Atlantic

I haven't seen a lot of Smith, but what I did see I liked. He throws the football with conviction. He makes good decisions. And Sean Payton did develop Tony Romo, another small school QB.

I could be wrong on any of these guys, but most of these are guys I like per round. There are other players I like, too, but most of them are unrealistic for the Saints.

Finally, this is not comprehensive. I still have about 20 players that I want to grade by Friday, when I will present to you my Finalized 2009 Draft Board.