NFL Draft Preview: New Orleans Saints

After finishing 7-9 last year, when asked about what changes would be coming for the New Orleans Saints, coach Sean Payton's response was simple: defense. Not like their offense was spectacular or anything, I mean Drew Brees looked like a shell of himself the first half of the season, but the concern was that the Saints just couldn't stop offensive teams and therefore would be a focal point in the offseason and draft.

As far as needs go on defense specifically, the Saints really need to get a defensive tackle or linebacker pretty early if they can. While DT has plenty of players depth-wise, the talent level just isn't what is needed to be a big difference in terms of performance. It's the flipside for linebacker, where the Saints' starters are decent, but they have little depth beyond that. A contingency area for New Orleans would be on the offensive line later on in the draft.

At #10, the Saints have a few options, but if they are looking to shore up the DT position, they had better be prepared to trade up if they want to get Sedrick Ellis or possibly even Glenn Dorsey. Reports have said that management has been looking into ways to get Dorsey, but critics have cried that giving up too much for Dorsey could prove to be a huge achilles heel if the LSU defensive whiz' injury problems aren't truly behind him. If they sit at 10, there won't be enough talent at the positions they need to warrant a pick that high, so they may trade down and hope to get Keith Rivers at OLB. The thing is--the Saints have some options, and don't be surprised if their draft position and player personnel hops around quite a bit come draft day.

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