METAIRIE, La. (AP) -If the New Orleans Saints hold on to their 14th overall selection in this weekend’s NFL draft, getting it wrong could be costly as ever.
Deals that brought in linebacker Jonathan Vilma from the New York Jets and tight end Jeremy Shockey from the Giants left New Orleans with no second-, third- or fifth-round picks this year.
Trading their first-round choice on Saturday for multiple picks in later rounds could be the wisest decision of all. Otherwise, the Saints will have only one pick in the first 115, and a league-low four picks in all seven rounds combined (including two in the fourth and one in the seventh).
Sean Payton has yet to relinquish a first-round pick in his first three seasons as Saints coach, and last year traded up to seventh from 10th to take Southern California defensive tackle Sedrick Ellis.
This year, though, Payton is keeping his options open, noting the No. 14 pick is ripe for a trade because it isn’t so high that it would require an enormous financial commitment by the team moving into that slot.
“It’s hard to trade down out of the first, second, third, fourth, fifth pick. But I think you can trade down nine, 10, 11, 12, 14,” Payton said. “You can get out of those spots, because those chairs aren’t viewed as ones that really bind you economically.”
Still, the Saints may want to wait to see what teams picking ahead of them do before pulling the trigger on a trade; a handful of prospects who could help the Saints immediately may still be available when New Orleans goes on the clock.
New Orleans’ most obvious needs are on defense, particularly in the backfield. Despite having the NFL’s leading offense, the Saints finished 8-8 and out of the playoffs last season because they were 23rd in total yards allowed per game (339.5) and passing yards allowed (221.7). New Orleans ranked a dismal 26th in points allowed (24.6).
Payton has spoken highly of two defensive backs in particular: Ohio State’s Malcolm Jenkins and Illinois’ Vontae Davis. Of the two, Jenkins is rated highest and the Saints may seize a chance to take him if he’s still available.
Davis, the brother of San Francisco tight end Vernon Davis, is more likely to still be around when the Saints pick, but when he was benched by Illinois coach Ron Zook last season, it raised concerns about his work ethic.
on spoke highly of Davis during NFL meetings in California last month.
“The kid at Illinois was outstanding in his workout. He was explosive, physical,” Payton said. “Vontae Davis is a guy that was impressive. He’s a guy I think is intriguing, because I think he’s an excellent athlete.”
In the ultra-paranoid NFL, such comments could be viewed as a smoke screen. If they were genuine, Davis might end up in New Orleans, competing for playing time alongside second-year pro Tracy Porter, veteran Randall Gay and new free-agent pickup Jabari Greer.
Certainly, the Saints could be in the market for another cornerback after releasing former starter Mike McKenzie, who had knee injuries the past two seasons. New Orleans also needs depth at free safety after parting with Josh Bullocks and Kevin Kaesviharn.
If the Saints go with a corner, it would be a sign they’re ready to see if Usama Young, who was drafted as a cornerback in 2007, can make the transition to free safety.
“There is a potential that we’ll look at possibly moving him to free safety here in this offseason,” Payton said. “He’s a big, athletic guy with straight-line speed, probably not the quickness and agility maybe you would want at corner.”
Another player the Saints honed in on during draft workouts was Southern California linebacker Brian Cushing, whose quickness and versatility could help.
t season and was a second-team AP All-American. He was the Trojans’ second-leading tackler with 73. He had three sacks, six pass deflections and an interception.
Cushing also can play defensive end. New Orleans could be short at that position early next season if starters Will Smith and Charles Grant are forced to serve four-game suspensions they and several other players received after testing positive for the banned diuretic bumetanide. The players have sought to block the suspensions in federal court.
Two of Payton’s first three first-round picks have been Trojans – the first being Reggie Bush – and Payton has said he regards USC’s pro day as one of the most important events of the year for evaluating prospects.
Yet, for all the Saints’ needs on defense, Payton might still look for ways to bolster his potent offense.
Several key free-agent signings, such as Greer and veteran free safety Darren Sharper, gave the Saints enough flexibility to consider power running back. Following the release of Deuce McAllister, who like McKenzie has been hampered by knee injuries, New Orleans may look to Ohio State’s Chris “Beanie” Wells or Georgia’s Knowshon Moreno to fill the void.
As much as the Saints’ defense struggled last season, New Orleans still might have made the playoffs if not for some failures in short-yardage situations.
f runner New Orleans needs, but added, “I like the back at Georgia a lot.”
Moreno “comes away a little bit from that prototype that we’re talking about,” Payton said. “He’s not quite the same size or a little bit different style of runner than Chris Wells is at Ohio State. But I think he’s a very talented player.”
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