New Orleans Saints Offseason Summary and Grades
By Scott Carasik
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Key Losses
Released OG Jamar Nesbit, DE Chalres Grant, LB Mark Simoneau
RB Mike Bell, DT Kedrick Clancy, OLB Scott Fujita, S Darren Sharper contractes expired
Trades
The Saints traded a 2011 4th round pick for a 2010 5th round pick (#158 overall - used on C Matt Tennant)
The Saints traded a 2010 4th round pick (#130 overall - used on OLB O'Brien Schofield) and 2010 6th round pick (#201 overall - used on CB Jorrick Calvin) for a 2010 4th round pick (#123 overall - used on DT Al Woods)
Free Agency
Re-signed WR Courtney Roby, TE David Thomas, OT Jermon Bushrod, OT Zach Strief, DE Anthony Hargrove, DE Jeff Charleston, NT Remi Ayodele, ILB Marvin Mitchell, CB Leigh Torrence, S Usama Young, S Chris Reis, S Pierson Prioleau, S Darren Sharper
Signed DE Jimmy Wilkerson, DE Alex Brown
Signed as undrafted free agents RB Carlos Brown RB Christian Ducre RB Chris Ivory WR Chris Bell G Brandon Carter G Joe Tonga DE Brandon Sharpe DE Junior Galette DT Jay Ross LB Harry Coleman LB Justin Beauchamp CB Marcell Young S Ryan Hamilton LS Clint Gresham
Draft Grade = B-
32 New Orleans Saints - CB Patrick Robinson - 5'11-1/4" 190 - Florida State
New Orleans has 3 good corners and another good S/CB. I didn't see the need and they reached over a full round for him. Grade: F
64 New Orleans Saints - OT Charles Brown - 6'5-3/8" 303 - Southern California
The Saints will be getting rid of Jammal Brown and here they take someone who can be a LT for the next 10 years. Grade: A+
95 New Orleans Saints - TE Jimmy Graham - 6'6-1/4" 260 - Miami
They needed a TE and get a great value here with Graham. I just think you don't take a backup with other guys who would start here this early. Grade: B
123 New Orleans Saints - DT Al Woods - 6'3-5/8" 309 - Louisiana State
A bit of a reach but should fit the NT role for the Saints very well. Grade: B
158 New Orleans Saints - C Matt Tennant - 6'4-1/2" 300 - Boston College
The Saints get great value here and get a guy who will be an anchor at the pivot for over 10 years. Grade: A
239 New Orleans Saints - QB Sean Canfield - 6'3-3/4" 223 - Oregon State
This move makes too much sense not to like. Canfield fits the backup QB for the Saints well. Grade: A
Overall Grade based on talent acquired and team needs met: B+
They got a lot of talent acquired and are relying on their 2009 draft to fill in a lot of their needs with Arnoux and Casillas expected to contribute to the linebacking corps, and their 2010 draft gave them someone who would allow for 09 pick Malcolm Jenkins to slide over to the FS spot. Their offense didn't need anything yet, they strengthened the line with a better C and a better backup QB. by re-signing Sharper they keep a needed deensive leader.
Projected Depth Chart heading into training camp:
QB - Drew Brees/Sean Canfield/Chase Daniel
RB - Pierre Thomas/Reggie Bush/Lynell Hamilton/Carlos Brown/Christian Ducre/Chris Ivory
3DRB - Reggie Bush/Lynell Hamilton
FB - Heath Evans/Zak Keasey/Marcus Mailei
WR Featured - Marques Colston/Lance Moore/Rod Harper
WR Possession - Devery Henderson/Adrian Arrington/Matt Simon
WR Slot - Robert Meachem/Courtney Roby/Chris Bell
TE - Jeremy Shockey/David Thomas/Jimmy Graham/Tyler Lorenzen/Tory Humphrey
LT - Jammal Brown/Jermon Bushrod/Charles Brown
LG - Carl Nicks/Tim Duckworth/Brandon Carter
C - Jonathan Goodwin/Matt Tennant/Nick Leckey
RG - Jahri Evans/Na'Shan Goddard/Joe Tonga
RT - Jon Stinchcomb/Zach Strief/Jeremy Parnell
LDE - Alex Brown/Bobby McCray/Jeff Charleston/Brandon Sharpe
NT - Remi Ayodele/Al Woods/DeMario Pressley/Rodney Leisle/Jay Ross
UT - Sedrick Ellis/Anthony Hargrove/Earl Heyman
RDE - Will Smith/Jimmy Wilkerson/Junior Galette
WLB - Jonathan Casillas/Stanley Arnoux/Harry Coleman
MLB - Jonathan Vilma/Jo-Lonn Dunbar/Anthony Waters
SLB - Scott Shanle/Marvin Mitchell/Troy Evans/Justin Beauchamp
LCB - Jabari Greer/Malcolm Jenkins/Patrick Robinson/Reggie Jones/Greg Fassitt
RCB - Tracy Porter/Randall Gay/Leigh Torrence/Glenn Sharpe/Marcell Young
FS - Darren Sharper/Malcolm Jenkins/Usama Young/Ryan Hamilton
SS - Roman Harper/Chip Vaughn/Chris Reis
K - Garrett Hartley
P - Thomas Morstead
LS - Jason Kyle/Clint Gresham
KR - Courtney Roby
PR - Reggie Bush
Starter is Bolded
Free Agent Acquisitions are Italicised
Draft picks are Underlined
