As everyone knows, the 2015 NFL Draft has come to a close, and Last Word On Sports continues its series on the 2015 NFL Draft here. Today, the New Orleans Saints are under the microscope.
First Round, 13th Overall – OT Andrus Peat (Stanford)
First Round, 31st Overall (from Seattle) – LB Stephone Anthony (Clemson)
Second Round, 44th Overall – LB Hau’oli Kikaha (Washington)
Third Round, 75th Overall – QB Garrett Grayson (Colorado State)
Third Round, 78th Overall – CB P.J. Williams (Florida State)
Fifth Round, 148th Overall – LB Davis Tull (Tennessee-Chattanooga)
Fifth Round, 154th Overall (from Kansas City) – DT Tyeler Davison (Fresno State)
Fifth Round, 167th Overall – CB Damain Swain (Georgia)
Seventh Round, 230th Overall – RB Marcus Murphy (Missouri)
New Orleans Saints 2015 NFL Draft Review
Best Player: Hau’oli Kikaha
Hau’oli Kikaha will turn out to be the best selection from this Saints draft class. After leading the nation with a school record 19 sacks at Washington in 2014, Kikaha and his natural pass-rushing ability will spark instant production for the Saints front seven. Although he is slightly undersized, he will be a perfect fit for Rob Ryan’s 3-4 scheme as an outside linebacker. Being that he was taken in the second round, he may turn out to be a steal.
The Head-Scratcher: Damian Swann
Despite displaying versatility by playing cornerback and safety in college, Damian Swann was the most questionable selection in the Saints draft. Swann is a stellar blitzing defensive back, but plays too loosely in coverage and doesn’t have the ability to make the big play consistently. What also makes this pick a head-scratcher is the already-existing depth the Saints have at the cornerback and safety positions. Best-case scenario, Swann will have a presence on special teams or as a rotational player.
The Surprise: Stephone Anthony
The Stephone Anthony selection was a surprise because of the location of the selection, not the need the Saints have at linebacker. Historically, the Saints don’t draft linebackers in the first two rounds. Middle linebacker Jonathan Vilma and inside linebacker Curtis Lofton were both free agent signings who became the captains of the defense within the last seven seasons. After picking him 31st overall, the Saints hope that Anthony will develop into the team’s defensive leader for the future.
The Steal: P.J. Williams
Kikaha deserves much consideration for this distinction, but P.J. Williams gets the slight nod. Williams earned Defensive MVP honors in the 2013 BCS Championship game after recording seven tackles, a half-tackle for a loss and an interception in the victory against Auburn. In 2014, Williams was named first-team All-ACC and a semifinalist for the Jim Thorpe Award (awarded to the nation’s top defensive back) after posting 74 tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss, one interception and 10 passes defensed in 13 games. He has superb press coverage skills along with a solid combination of size and speed. In the NFC South, he will play against big receivers like Julio Jones, Kelvin Benjamin and Mike Evans, so his six-foot frame will be needed. He should develop into a solid corner, as he will be playing behind Keenan Lewis, Brandon Browner and other veterans initially.
Most Likely to Turn Heads in Training Camp: Marcus Murphy
Marcus Murphy will garner much attention simply because of his playmaking ability. Murphy will fit right into the Saints special teams unit, as he earned All-SEC honors throughout his college career as a return specialist. As an all-purpose dynamo, Murphy will eventually develop into a versatile threat like Reggie Bush and Darren Sproles were for a number of years, which is an offensive element that made the Saints so potent during the Sean Payton-Drew Brees era.
The Rest
First rounder Andrus Peat will be the heir-apparent for veteran right tackle Zach Strief. Quarterback Garrett Grayson appears to be the successor to Drew Brees, but he will have to compete against Luke McCown and Ryan Griffin for a roster spot. Davis Tull and Tyeler Davison will be rotational players on the depth chart at linebacker and defensive tackle, respectively.
The Bottom Line
Overall, the Saints had a decent draft. It would have been ideal for them to draft a guard or two to replace Ben Grubbs and Jahri Evans, but they can’t be too disappointed after addressing other pressing needs first. In a crucial year under the current Saints regime, this draft class needs to produce immediately.
Saints 2015 Draft Grade: 7/10
Check out our other draft reviews here.
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