2010 NFL Draft Countdown: New Orleans Saints

The NFL Draft Countdown is where we take a closer look at an NFL franchise to see what its transactions have been and what its needs are.

Franchise

• Draft Position: 32
• 2009 Season Result: 13-3 (1^st in NFC South; Won Super Bowl)
• 2009 Head Coach: Sean Payton
• 2010 Head Coach: Sean Payton (38-26; 4-1)

Key Transactions

• RB Mike Bell (to PHI)
• LB Scott Fujita (to CLE)

Draft Picks

• 1-32
• 2-32
• 3-31
• 4-32
• 6-32
• 7-32

Analysis & Outlook

Last year, the Saints put the ultimate crown on a four-year process by winning the Super Bowl, but scarily enough, they can still get better.

The Saints haven’t brought in any free agents, but they have enough (restricted) free agents of their own to re-sign. On the offensive side, they’ll make it a priority to re-sign O-Linemen Jammal Brown, Jahri Evans and Jermon Bushrod, RB Pierre Thomas, and WRs Lance Moore and Courtney Roby. On defense, expect them to bring back DT Anthony Hargrove, and DBs Roman Harper and Usama Young. Ideally, they’d also want to get Darren Sharper back for at least one more year and I think they will.

The Saints let RB Mike Bell go and I’d keep an eye on Lynell Hamilton. He had a pretty good pre-season last year and he could become the Saints’ goal-line back next season. On offense, the Saints also had every TE with the exception of Jeremy Shockey enter (restricted) free agency. They might bring back David Thomas, but I expect the Saints to draft a TE. Two prospects I like are Dorin Dickerson and Nate Byham, both from the University of Pittsburgh. Dickerson is a guy who can fly up the seam and cause matchup problems, while Byham is a good in-line blocker who will help the running game.

The Saints have more pressing needs on defense though. Age and injuries will lead them to replenish the front seven and build depth in the secondary. Look for them to target D-Linemen, LBs and DBs.

In the first round, I expect the Saints to target DEs Brandon Graham and Jared Odrick, LB Daryl Washington, and maybe even S Taylor Mays. In the second round, they’ll go after TE Dorin Dickerson or a LB like Navorro Bowman. If they miss out on Dickerson, Dennis Pitta is an option in round 3 as well as a DT. With their remaining picks, they’ll go with DBs and O-Linemen.

The Saints have room for improvement, and they’ll need to make those improvements with a tougher schedule and every team gunning for them in 2010.