Now that the Super Bowl has been played and free agency is approaching in a month, the Last Word On Sports NFL department will be looking at the top three needs for each team. Today, the New Orleans Saints are under the microscope. The Saints have the12th pick in the 2016 NFL Draft as they look to reestablish their place in the NFC South after missing the playoffs two consecutive seasons. Tight cap numbers have triggered the departures of fan favorites and notable veterans, and making smart financial decisions will continue to be imperative. Picking in the top 15, it’ll be difficult to screw up the selection.
New Orleans Saints 2016 Off-Season: Top 3 Needs
Defensive Lineman
Whether it’s a pass rusher, a run stopper or just an oversized man with a pulse, the Saints are in desperate need of a game-changing defensive lineman. In 2013, New Orleans sacked the quarterback 49 times, ranking fourth in the league. The takedown tandem of Cameron Jordan and outside linebacker Junior Galette (12.5 and 12 sacks, respectively) helped the team boast the league’s fourth-best defense. In the past two seasons, the Saints piled a combined 65 sacks. With Galette now in Washington, finding someone to go opposite of Jordan will be vital. Obtaining a hole-clogging defensive tackle is also of high importance. New Orleans has finished 29th or lower in rushing defense three of the last four seasons. With the soft interior play, opposing teams have been able to dominate the trenches at will. Kevin Williams and John Jenkins are far beyond their primes. Tyeler Davison made some plays in his rookie campaign, but much more help is needed.
With defensive tackle being the feature position in this year’s draft, the Saints should look to draft Alabama’s A’Shawn Robinson, Ole Miss’s Robert Nkemdiche or Louisville’s Sheldon Rankins. At this juncture, anyone would be an instant upgrade.
Outside Linebacker
As aforementioned, a pass-rushing presence will assist the Saints mightily. Anything close to the Jordan-Galette duo will alleviate pressure off a secondary that religiously struggles down in the Big Easy. Hau’oli Kikaha was a huge surprise in year one, racking up 52 tackles, four sacks and four forced fumbles. Dannell Ellerbe is productive when healthy, but he’ll turn 31 in November.
Although they’re both nursing injuries, UCLA’s Miles Jack and Jaylon Smith of Notre Dame are too talented to pass on. Amid questions about their health, their awareness, explosiveness and pure athleticism goes without saying. Whether the Saints choose a lineman or a linebacker, their No. 1 pick must be on defense.
Offensive Guard
A main reason on why the Saints excelled greatly offensively in the past decade was their offensive line play. Placing top five in all but one season since 2006, the front five has done a stellar job protecting their franchise quarterback. From 2009-2012, the men upfront surrendered an averaged of only 24 sacks per year. Since 2013, the annual takedown average has increased to 33 a season. Age has contributed to the unit’s gradual demise, so it’s only right for the Saints to look in the draft. Terron Armstead and Andrus Peat are plugged in as the team’s tackles. With six-time Pro Bowler Jahri Evans released, guard is the biggest hole to fix. The unique thing about New Orleans is that most of their best linemen in the past 10 years (Evans, Armstead, Zach Strief, Carl Nicks and Jermon Bushrod) were drafted in the third round or later.
The Saints could potentially choose homegrown prospect Vadal Alexander (LSU) in round two. If they choose to pass–since defense is the premium concern–they’ll have their chance to collect a lineman.
