The New Orleans Saints' Round 1 Big Board Before Combine
On-field workouts for the 2015 NFL Scouting Combine get underway Friday, and throughout the weekend, the New Orleans Saints will get a firsthand look at most of the prospects on their Round 1 big board.
This year’s draft is still over two months away. While the evaluations of many of the top prospects are ongoing, it’s not too early to begin speculating on potential first-round picks.
The Saints, who stumbled through a 7-9 season in 2014, must address numerous needs this offseason. They’re expected to bring in much-needed help at the cornerback spot via free agency, as the position is stocked with proven NFL cover men whose current contracts have run out.
In the first round of the draft, however, there’s a good chance New Orleans will select either a pass-rusher or an offensive lineman.
The Saints struggled to apply adequate pressure on opposing quarterbacks throughout their disappointing 2014 campaign, as defensive coordinator Rob Ryan’s unit finished the year ranked No. 31 in the league in total defense. This year’s draft class is loaded with a surplus of highly rated pass-rushers, and it’s a safe bet that general manager Mickey Loomis will have his eye on more than a few of them at this weekend’s combine.
On the offensive side, quarterback Drew Brees was under heavy duress for the majority of the season, and it stands to reason that New Orleans will be looking to improve its insufficient pass protection in the early rounds of the draft, if not in the first round.
Following is a closer look at some of the players the Saints should have on their Round 1 big board heading into the combine. Based on the fact that they play positions of need, these nine players are all likely to be closely evaluated by the New Orleans front office this weekend and in the coming months.
Bud Dupree, Outside Linebacker/Defensive End, Kentucky
1 of 9
From a pure athletic standpoint, Kentucky’s Bud Dupree is one of the most impressive pass-rushers in this year’s draft, and he’ll certainly be a player to keep an eye on at the combine.
Standing 6’4” and carrying 264 pounds, he demonstrates eye-popping explosiveness off the edge. In addition, he’s capable of having his way with larger run-blocking tight ends, and he’s not averse to lowering the boom on a ball-carrier when given the opportunity.
At this point in his development, Dupree is somewhat unpolished, and he’s far from a finished product. His ceiling is sky-high, however, and he has the potential to become a dominant edge-rusher in the league.
Dante Fowler Jr., Outside Linebacker, Florida
2 of 9
Another outstanding pass-rusher in this year’s draft is Florida’s Dante Fowler Jr.
He’s not overly tall at 6’3,” but he has extraordinarily long arms, which is always a huge plus for a pass-rusher. Like Dupree, he’s capable of exploding off the edge with stunning quickness, and he has impressive strength to match.
A negative he shares with Dupree is that he’s also quite raw at the moment. He hasn’t yet developed a full complement of moves, but the potential is there nonetheless.
Fowler could very well be gone when New Orleans picks, but a lot can happen between now and draft time, and the Saints will certainly be eyeing his workouts this weekend.
Vic Beasley, Outside Linebacker, Clemson
3 of 9
Vic Beasley is another highly rated pass-rusher who’s a strong candidate to be selected by the Saints in the first round.
At just 235 pounds, the former Clemson Tiger doesn’t possess the build of Dupree or Fowler, but he accommodates for his lack of size with elite quickness. With a creative defensive mind like Ryan scheming for him, it’s not hard to envision the Saints moving him around all over the field in order to create advantageous one-on-one matchups.
The combine is where talented athletes like Beasley often shoot up draft boards. As of now, however, there’s a good chance he’ll be there for the taking when New Orleans makes its first-round pick.
.jpg?w=256 "Colts Jaguars Football")
La'el Collins, Offensive Line, LSU
4 of 9
Offensive linemen take to the field Friday, and one of the biggest names in this year’s crop is LSU’s La’el Collins.
Named second-team All-America by The Associated Press in 2014, Collins can play either guard or tackle, and he started at both positions during his collegiate career.
He possesses ideal size and strength, and he also displays proper technique on most plays. Perhaps his best asset, however, is his mean streak, which is quite noticeable on film.
Considering the present state of uncertainty along the New Orleans offensive line, a versatile lineman like Collins wouldn’t be a bad selection in the first round.
Andrus Peat, Offensive Tackle, Stanford
5 of 9
Another offensive lineman with first-round talent is Andrus Peat of Stanford. Unlike Collins, he projects strictly as an outside player and isn’t likely to be moved to guard.
Standing 6’7,” he’s an imposing physical specimen with the tools to develop into a top-level NFL left tackle. He displays impressive footwork in pass protection, and he appears to have good instincts for the position.
Peat is also a punishing run-blocker, which could contribute to him playing on the right side, at least during his rookie season.
There’s a lot to like about this offensive tackle prospect, and the Saints will likely be paying close attention to his performance Friday.
T.J. Clemmings, Offensive Tackle, Pittsburgh
6 of 9
Pittsburgh’s T.J. Clemmings is a safe bet to be selected in the first round of the draft, and New Orleans could very well be eyeing him for its selection at No. 13.
At 309 pounds, he’s light on his feet, and he projects strictly as a tackle at the next level. Similar to current Saints left tackle Terron Armstead, Clemmings’ most striking physical attribute is his quickness. He also displays exceptional agility for an offensive tackle, and his athleticism will be on full display at the combine.
His technique isn’t yet on par with that of Collins or Peat, but the sky is the limit for this young offensive tackle.
Benardrick McKinney, Inside Linebacker, Mississippi State
7 of 9
Saints linebacker Curtis Lofton had a solid 2014 season on the inside, but the future status of fellow starting inside ‘backer David Hawthorne is very much uncertain at this point.
New Orleans is facing a tight salary-cap situation, and Hawthorne is one of the top names who could be up for release this offseason. This would create a void in the middle of the Saints defense, and if they don’t address the position in free agency, they could choose to shore it up with a first-round draft pick.
He’ll get an argument from Miami’s Denzel Perryman, but Benardrick McKinney may be the top inside linebacker in this year’s draft.
At 6’5” and 249 pounds, the former Mississippi State Bulldog possesses perfect size for an NFL inside ‘backer, and he has impressive speed to boot. Capable of taking on the blocks of much larger offensive linemen, he frequently finished off SEC ball-carriers in punishing fashion.
Chances aren’t great that the Saints will go inside linebacker with their top pick, but with a talent like McKinney on the board, it would be foolish to not give him a look.
Shaq Thompson, Outside Linebacker, Washington
8 of 9
If the draft were held today, Washington outside linebacker Shaq Thompson might be considered a bit of a reach for the Saints at pick No. 13. That doesn’t mean he’s not an important name on their big board, however, as player evaluations are highly fluid and ongoing.
At 228 pounds, he’s unquestionably undersized, but one glimpse at his explosive athleticism is all it takes to see the appeal in taking him early on in this draft.
Thompson makes up for his lack of size with his ultra-aggressive style of play, along with his instinctiveness as a defender. He’s an exceptional open-field tackler, and he isn’t afraid to take on much larger blockers. In addition, he pulled double duty for the Huskies and gained 456 rushing yards as a running back this past season.
Given that he’s better suited to play in a 4-3 defense, there will be questions about him fitting into Ryan’s base 3-4 alignment. It should be noted, however, that Ryan incorporates elements of both alignments into his defense, and it isn’t far-fetched to think the Saints will be watching Thompson closely this weekend.
Shane Ray, Defensive End, Missouri
9 of 9
As of now, it’s unlikely that Shane Ray will be there when New Orleans selects at pick No. 13. If the Saints decide that the former Missouri defensive end is their guy, however, they may elect to do whatever it takes to acquire him.
After all, New Orleans traded up seven spots a year ago to snag wideout Brandin Cooks in the first round, and there’s nothing stopping the front office from doing the same this time around.
Make no mistake: Ray would make an instant impact in Ryan’s defense. Given the Saints’ defensive struggles last season, he’s a player who could come in and provide an immediate shot of energy to the unit.
USC's Leonard Williams is widely considered the top defensive lineman in this year's draft, but Ray is right on his heels, and he may be the best pure pass-rusher of the class. He has a lightning-quick first step off the line of scrimmage, and his 40-yard dash this weekend will be one of the more highly anticipated individual workouts of the combine.
Ray is extremely aggressive in all facets of his game, and with his outstanding strength and physicality, he projects well into any defensive alignment.
The aforementioned draft entrants certainly aren’t the only names on the New Orleans Saints’ big board heading into the combine. Numerous other collegiate standouts will command the attention of the Saints front office as well. The players listed above all bring something to the table as potential first-round picks, however, and New Orleans would be wise to give each one of them a hard look this weekend and beyond.
.jpg?w=480 "Colts Jaguars Football")
.png?w=480)
