Black and Gold X's and O's| 2009 NFL Draft Day Two Recap

Now that the New Orleans Saints have drafted the entire Wake Forest defense (just kidding, although I wouldn't have been disappointed if they had), let's review the second day of the 2009 draft, shall we?

I am a huge believer in the concept that you cannot give a grade on a draft class, or perhaps to say it better, a class cannot be judged without also noting who was acquired in the rookie free agency period that is likely coming to a close as I write this.

In the coming weeks, I will do the best I can to tell you about the players the New Orleans Saints were able to sign dirt cheap this evening.

But for now, let me discuss the three picks the New Orleans Saints made on day two.

Pick 116 (Fourth Round)- Chip Vaughn, S, Wake Forest

Vaughn is a guy I had a chance to watch on film in the past week, as I came to realize he would be drafted. He did not originally stand out much to me when I watched Aaron Curry and Alphonso Smith, as the other Saints draftee (mentioned next did). But, when I decided to strictly focus on Vaughn, I liked him.

I gave him a 5.9, which in Russ Lande language means fourth round, and a guy who has a chance to be very good on special teams right away, and in time could develop into a good starter.

Some have said he's a better fit as an in-the-box safety. I'm not sure if I agree with that notion.

He is pretty big for a safety (6'2" and 220 pounds) and definitely has some physicality, which I think you always prefer in a safety, although it's not a necessity.

I feel comfortable with his ability to move his feet and change directions quickly. He has good, but not great, range and good ball skills for a safety.

I think he's also a good tackler who plays the game with some good energy. I think at pick 116 in the fourth round, Vaughn was a very good choice for the Saints.

Grade:  A-

Pick 118 (Fourth Round)- Stanley Arnoux, LB, Wake Forest

I have to admit that the grade I gave Arnoux on my big board, was partially inspired by nfldraftscout.com and just from what I noticed when watching other Wake Forest players. I did not have the time to grade out Arnoux. Now I wish I had.

However, I did notice that despite playing on a super-talented defense in Winston-Salem, Arnoux still found a way to be around the football quite a bit. You have to love that about any defensive player.

It is possible that Arnoux looked better because of the quality of the players around him. Or maybe he is an underrated player. I had him as a 5.7 (sixth round), but like I said, I did not look at him individually. I will do so in the next few days, and give a better scouting report on him then.

Grade:  Incomplete

Pick 164 (Fifth Round)- Thomas Morstead, P, Southern Methodist

I graded Morstead as a fifth rounder, but once again that was with the help of nfldraftscout.com.

The little I know about him, he sounds like an upgrade over Glen Pakulak.

I know the Saints feel that to become a more complete team, and to help their defense, they need to improve in punt coverage. A guy with good hangtime, and an ability to down punts inside the 20-yard line, is becoming more and more valued in the league.

My only problem with this pick, is the fact we gave up another draft pick, this one in next year's draft.

It seems that Sean Payton and Mickey Loomis do not value picks the way that New England, or some of the other very good drafting teams, do.

That is frustrating to me. But aside from that, I think this is a very good pick, and should make us a better football team in the long run.

Grade: B-

Overall Draft Grade (minus rookie free agency):  B+

As for some other interesting notes on the rest of the draft, I remain shocked that Vanderbilt CB D.J. Moore fell to the fourth round and pick 119. I think the Chicago Bears got one of the steals of the draft.

Although I had Shonn Greene rated as a first rounder, I think the Jets did the smart thing to trade up to the first pick of the third round to get him. Quietly, the Jets may have put together the best draft of any team, despite having only three picks.

They of course got their quarterback of the future, and the best in this draft, in Mark Sanchez, at no. 5.

And the pick of Nebraska OL Matt Slauson in the sixth round is likely another steal.

I thought there were a lot of players in round two who didn't deserve to be there, but I thought round three was much truer to form, as far as players being drafted where they were graded.

I'm wondering if the Buccaneers are planning to switch to a 3-4 defense, based upon some of their defensive draft picks. Roy Miller, DT from Texas, and Kyle Moore, DE from Southern Cal, are both really good fits in a 3-4 defense, but not so much for a 4-3.

Kaluka Maiava may end up as the best linebacker to come out of this draft from Southern California. I loved him when I watched him on film, and I think in the fourth round to Cleveland, where he'll be an inside linebacker, is a really good fit for him.

I'm surprised DE/OLB Lawrence Sidbury from Richmond lasted until round four. I had him as a second round player, and think he may be the best pure pass rusher in the entire draft. Unfortunately, he went to the Falcons, who I thought put together a very nice draft overall.

I think the Chargers got a steal in round four with the selection of Gartrell Johnson. To me, he is a much more productive player than someone like "Beanie" Wells. And I believe in a year or two, he can become the Chargers "feature back".

There are some players drafted in the fifth round I absolutely love, and believe should have been drafted sooner.

Among them, Deangelo Smith, a corner from Cincinnati. The Cowboys took him and also took his teammate, and fellow corner, Mike Mickens in the seventh round. Both should develop into starters in the NFL, before all is said and done.

One of my favorite players in the entire draft, and in my opinion the second smartest receiver in the draft, Jarrett Dillard from Rice, went to Jacksonville at pick 144. To me, that was a wonderful pick.

Davon Drew, Tight End from East Carolina, is a very good pick for Baltimore at 149. He's a guy who will be a good blocker, and effective in the short passing game for Joe Flacco.

Finally, Garrett Reynolds, Right Tackle from North Carolina, is a very good right tackle. The reason he fell to the fifth round is because he is only a right tackle. But I think in a year or two, he will develop into a very good starter on the right side of the Falcons line.

Gosh darn it. The Falcons had a great draft!

Two quarterbacks stand out as sixth round picks. Denver got Tom Brandstater from Fresno State. Although I never got to sit down and chart his throws, I have seen him quite a bit, and have a good feeling about the guy.

Is he the next Tom Brady? I doubt it, but he could easily become a starter in the NFL.

The other is Rutgers QB Mike Teel, who went to Seattle, Mark Sanchez's alleged destination for much of this pre-draft period.

Same thing with Teel as Brandstater; I just have a good feeling about the guy.

I also want to give the Houston Texans some credit for drafting a guy I plugged quite a bit before the draft, in Brice McCain a cornerback from Utah. He is a little small, and got beat on a number of occasions, but I think there is something special there.

To the seventh and final round; I'm a little surprised South Carolina CB Captain Munnerlyn fell this far. I thought he was a fourth rounder, and really a Dre Bly clone. I think he'll make the Panthers, or some other team, and develop into a playmaking-type corner.

Lydon Murtha, an OT from Nebraska, is another guy I liked quite a bit, who I thought would go before the seventh round. He has a good chance to make the Lions team.

Sammie Stroughter, WR from Oregon State, is an interesting guy. He doesn't really have the measurables or speed, but the guy just makes plays. Don't be shocked if he becomes another David Anderson. The Bucs got good value at this point in the draft.

Larod Stephens-Howling was a nice complement to LeSean McCoy the past two seasons in the Pittsburgh Panthers backfield. He's a guy I thought would make it to free agency, but I believe he has a chance to become a good third down back in the league.

And finally, a shout-out to the only San Diego State Aztec to be drafted this year. Lance Louis is an OL, who ESPN said was a tight end when the pick was first announced.

Chicago last year signed Nick Osborne a defensive end from State, so maybe they have some good insight into the school or something.

As for the guys who didn't get drafted, there are some who stand out, and I believe were likely highly-coveted guys these past few hours. Here are some of my favorite.

RB Ian Johnson Boise State

TE Korey Sperry Colorado State

WR Aaron Kelly Clemson

WR Jeremy Childs Boise State

WR Kevin Ogletree Virginia

OLB Frantz Joseph Florida Atlantic

ILB Ashlee Palmer Mississippi

QB John Parker Wilson Alabama

QB/Athlete Chase Daniel Missouri

QB Graham Harrell Texas Tech

QB Brian Hoyer Michigan State

QB Rusty Smith Florida Atlantic

RB Tyrell Sutton Northwestern

DT/DE Terrill Byrd Cincinnati

OLB Corey Smith Cincinnati

DT Mitch King Iowa

S Emanuel Cook South Carolina

WR D.J. Boldin Wake Forest

TE Darius Hill Ball State

OT Dallas Reynolds Brigham Young

S Reshard Langford Vanderbilt

Those are all guys who likely have already been signed who I think will make NFL teams this fall.

And when I found out who the Saints acquired through free agency I will do my best to get some scouting reports on those players and provide a complete draft weekend grade.

Until then, Geaux Saints!