New Orleans Saints valgte defensiv tackle Sheldon Rankins fra Louisville i første runde af draften.
Det var et valg som mange mock drafts havde forudset.
New Orleans Saints 2016 draft klasse
1.runde: 12 overall – Sheldon Rankins, defensiv tackle, Louisville
“The Saints have been awful on defense, so this is not a surprise pick here for me. Rankins is the best three-technique, which is a defensive tackle in a four-man front. He will be a sub-package interior pass rusher and one of the better ones in this league. What he does best is pick a gap and go. He’s one of the quicker defensive tackles we’ve seen in the last several years.” — Mike Mayock
Sheldon Rankins draftprofil på NFL.com
Social media: Twitter / Instagram
2. runde (#47): Michael Thomas, WR, Ohio State
“His greatest strengths are that he has ball skill and he’s a competitive SOB. He’s a refuse-to-lose type player. I think that he will have a long career in the NFL.” — Ohio State coach Urban Meyer
Michael Thomas draftprofil på NFL.com
Social media: Twitter / Instagram
2. runde (#61): Vonn Bell, FS, Ohio State
“He has the skill set of a corner. How many safeties can cover a No. 2 receiver?” — Ohio State coach Urban Meyer
Vonn Bells draftprofil på NFL.com
Social media: Twitter / Instagram
4. runde (#120): David Onyemata, defensiv tackle, Manitoba (Canada)
The Saints will need to be patient with Onyemata, as he’s new to the game and extremely raw. The organization, however, recognized his nasty demeanor and “plus” athleticism on film and against top competition during Shrine week. He’s a project with a potentially nice payoff. –Mark Dulgerian
David Onyemate draftprofil på NFL.com
Social media: Twitter / Instagram
7. runde (#237): Daniel Lasso, running back, California
Sean Payton will see how he can utilize Lasco’s explosiveness during camp. If he passes the trial period, he’s a depth weapon for an offensive-minded head coach. –Mark Dulgerian
Daniel Lasso draftprofil på NFL.com
Social media: Twitter
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Et overblik over resten af NFC South…
Atlanta Falcons
- 1. runde – 17 overall: Keanu Neal, SS, Florida
- 2. runde – 52 overall: Deion Jones, OLB, LSU
- 3. runde – 81 overall: Austin Hooper, TE, Stanford
- 4. runde – 115. overall: De’Vondre Campbell, OLB, Minnesota
- 6. runde – 195. overall: Wes Schweitzer, G, San Jose State
- 7. runde – 238. overall: Devin Fuller, WR, UCLA
Carolina Panthers
- 1. runde – 30. overall: Vernon Butler, DT, Louisiana Tech
- 2. runde – 62 overall: James Bradberry, CB, Samford
- 3. runde – 77. overall: Daryl Worley, CB, West Virginia
- 5. runde – 141. overall: Zack Sanchez, CB, Oklahoma
- 7. runde – 252. overall: Beau Sandland, TE, Montana State
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- 1. runde – 11. overall: Vernon Hargreaves, CB, Florida
- 2. runde – 39. overall: Noah Spence, DE, Easten Kentucky
- 2. runde – 59. overall: Roberto Aguayo, K, Florida State
- 4. runde – 108. overall: Ryan Smith, CB, North Carolina Central
- 5. runde – 148. overall: Caleb Benenoch, T, UCLA
- 6. runde – 183. overall: Devante Bond, OLB, Oklahoma
- 6. runde – 197. overall: Dan Vitale, FB, Northwestern
Ikke at jeg tror på det, men det kunne være frækt hvis Saints snuppede Myles Jack – hvis han skulle falde helt ned til os….
Glad for at Saints holdt fast i Sheldon og ikke lod sig lokke til “festaben” Laremy Tunsil. Ingen tvivl om at han er en fantastisk spiller, men der må være nogle seriøse karakterbrister. “Miami here he come!”
Sheldon har på twitter fastslået at han ikke var i Chicago til draft aften p.g.a. at han ville tilbringe dage sammen med sine bedsteforældre – det er en type der passer Sean Payton = kvalitet
Min gæt på Saints #2: CB Mackensie Alexander
Jeg tror også Saints gjorde klogt i at vælge Rankins. Jeg har hørt hans interviews med journalisterne fra NOLA. Og han lyder utrolig dedikeret til football og som han siger en “hard worker”. Jeg håber han bliver god for Saints!
Jeg kunne godt have tænkt mig at Saints havde satset lidt og tradet sig op og nuppet Myles Jack (som Jacksonville draftede)… Men nu fik vi wide receiver Michael Thomas. Thomas havde The Advocate Nick Underhill også et godt øje til. Og I en podcast mente han at Saints måske kunne drafte ham som nummer 12. Jeg kender ikke meget til safety Vonn Bell.
Har netop set et interview med Vonn Bell:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YH7-vT3wODA&index=14&list=PLRdw3IjKY2gnisZ5ub9_4121TN2rxBjP6
Jeg har en fornemmelse at vi har fået en ny Darren Sharper
Jeg kan godt lide vores tre første valg. David Onyemata virker som et projekt(?)… og så forstår jeg ikke at Saints vælger en running back? Her havde jeg hellere set defensivt pick, hvis man ikke havde en guard/center/tackle man kunne lide.
Jeg syntes draft klassen skal have karakteren syv… ville gerne have vi havde fået Myles Jack i anden runde.
7
– men hvis Onyemata viser sig at blive et “beast” i frontlinjen, så bliver det 10
…og hvis Vonn Bell er så god som nogen gør ham (aka Darren Sharper) så bliver det 12
Jamen dog som I kan hype dem allesammen. Defensive spillere forsvinder i middelmådigheden når resten af forsvaret smider håndklædet i ringen og håber på at Brees hiver den hjem for dem.
Til gengæld er det imponerende at I nærmest har været ude at hente et helt hold på post-draft waiveren. Manglede I et practice squad, eller er stemningen i sumpen bare at rookies da ikke kan være ringere end det forsvar I stillede med sidste sæson?
Jeg ved ikke om vi hyper alle draftpicks. Men jeg er særdeles tilfreds med runde et og to. De to sidste picks ved jeg ikke helt med, men i off season er jeg altid meget positiv. Mht. URFA så er Saints kendt for at finde mange talenter netop der… Pierre Thomas, Chris Ivory, Khiry Robinson ect…
NFL.com har Saints som #19 på deres listen over draftkvalitet i 2016:
19. New Orleans Saints
Draft picks: Sheldon Rankins (No. 12 overall), Michael Thomas (No. 47 overall), Vonn Bell (No. 61 overall), David Onyemata (No. 120), Daniel Lasco (No. 237)
Sheldon Rankins is a plug-and-play starter who should help the Saints from Day 1. The Saints left draft needs unfulfilled, but the additions of Vonn Bell and Michael Thomas address two of their bigger concerns. The Saints might have found another Akiem Hicks with fourth-round Canadian defensive tackle David Onyemata.
Forsat attraktivt at komme til Saints – UDFA 2016 – NFL.com rangerer Saints #1
1. New Orleans Saints
Sean Payton had only five draft picks to work with this year, so a strong UDFA class was a must. The Saints found two potential starters in guards Landon Turner and Avery Young (who could end up at tackle eventually). Offensive tackle Ryker Mathews and centers Jack Allen and Marcus Henry also have NFL futures. Getting receiver Michael Thomas in the second round was a steal, and either Jordan Williams (tough possession receiver) or Jared Dangerfield (taller downfield threat) could make the roster. Depth was needed at defensive back, so picking up De’Vante Harris, Ken Crawley, Trae Elston and Michael Caputo was a haul. Although D.J. Pettway didn’t play much at Alabama, his skill set is worth a look.
Jeg tror de fleste defensive UDFAs vil give Saints et kig, da der umiddelbart er gode muligheder for at komme i betragtning til rosterspots. Forhåbentlig tjener det Saints forsvar godt… hvis holdet bare kan få en eller to UDFAs som kan bidrage ville det være fantastisk.
Det er svært at sige noget om holdenes draft kvalitet – lige nu – lad os se om tre sæsoner… Jeg kan dog godt lide de ting Saints har gjort i draften.