The New Orleans Saints’ 2017 draft will go down as one of the best in franchise history.
With an abundance of early picks, the Saints filled many key needs and were able to snag the NFL’s Defensive Rookie of the Year -- cornerback Marshon Lattimore -- in the first round and traded up into the third round for the Offensive Rookie of the Year -- Alvin Kamara.
Those picks, along with other key selections, helped the Saints break the trend of three straight 7-9 seasons by finishing with an 11-5 record and winning the NFC South Division title for the first time since the 2011 season.
“I know it’s a one-year look, but that was the best Saints’ draft of the 2000s,” Raceland-based NFL analyst Mike Detillier said. “It was unprecedented because they got the offensive and defensive rookies of the year and other quality players that contributed right away and could be quality players for years to come.”
Can lightning strike again for the Saints?
That’s the question Detillier and other NFL draft analysts are probably asking as the NFL draft is scheduled for this week in Arlington, Texas. The first round is scheduled for Thursday with Rounds 2-3 on Friday and Rounds 4-7 on Saturday.
Picking at No. 27 in the first round, Detillier said the Saints need to find the right player that fills a need and is a good a fit in the locker room.
“What the Saints need to figure out is which player is the best fit and at what position,” Detillier said. “In that first round, you want a quality guy because you spent all of this time scouting them at that particular point.”
Detillier said the Saints can look at many areas of need at No. 27 and has three players in mind that the Saints may target at that spot. Those players are Boston College defensive end/outside linebacker Harold Landry, Central Florida cornerback Mike Hughes and Arkansas center Frank Ragnow.
But in the end, Detillier said he believes the Saints will add another pass rusher to an improving pass defense.
“I know the Saints would love to get their hands on another pass rusher,” he said. “Landry would fit the bill because Landry could play with his hand in the dirt as a defensive end or standup as an outside linebacker. You can also move him around a little bit sort of like the queen’s piece in football chess.”
Landry ended his Boston College career with 158 total tackles and 25 sacks, including a school record 16.5 in 2016.
Detillier said Landry’s style of play reminds him of one the Saints’ all-time best linebackers.
“He reminds me a lot of Pat Swilling in the way he can get off the snap and get into the backfield,” Detillier said. “If he is another Pat Swilling, I will take it.”
Sitting at No. 27, there is always a chance the Saints could move up or down in the draft.
Detillier said it may be tough for the Saints to move up if they like a specific player after trading this year’s second-round pick to acquire an extra third-round pick last year for Kamara.
Trading back and acquirting extra draft picks could be a possibility, but Detillier said that is something the Saints have only done once since head coach Sean Payton arrived in New Orleans in 2006.
Detillier said it’s something the Saints should consider, especially if several players with the same grade are still on their draft board. By trading back, the Saints could target other positions, such as tight end or wide receiver.
“If you have several players with the same grade, it may not be a bad idea to move back if the opportunity presents itself,” Detillier said. “If the Saints could move back to let’s say 36 and pick up an extra third-round pick, they should take that deal because they are getting a similar player in addition to an extra pick.”
The Saints enter the 2018 draft with eight picks. In addition to the 27th overall selection, the Saints have one pick each in the third and fourth rounds (91st and 127th), two each in the fifth and sixth rounds (147th, 164th, 189th and 201st) and one in the seventh round (245th).
Coming off a playoff appearance, Detillier said the Saints appear to be heading in the right direction and could use another strong draft to get back to the Super Bowl.
“I think there is a concerted effort to get this done now where the Saints have a good young mix of talent and older players in place, including the important piece in quarterback Drew Brees,” he said. “Even at the age of 39, Drew Brees is still playing at a high level, but no one has ever beaten Father Time. Because of that, the Saints may need to do this sooner rather than later.”