The New Orleans Saints front office has followed this model for years under Mickey Loomis: 1. Fill the team needs via free agency. 2. Build the team via the draft. Following Tuesday's pre-draft media session, Mickey Loomis echoed these principles that have served the Saints organization well.
"You just have to consideraboutare youpicking for rightnow?Are you picking for two years from now? And, that's part of what the big function of my job is to make sure that we're doing what's right for the franchise, not just for this year, but going forward," Loomis said about the Saints' draft process.
Over the years, we hear the usual common questions from New Orleans Saints fans about the first-round strategy:
a. Who are the Saints drafting?
b. Will Mickey make a move?
c. What players are the Saints targeting?
The Saints News Network (SNN) team decided to weigh in and give their thoughts on the 2024 Saints Draft.
1. What is the top position ofNEEDfor the New Orleans Saints in the first round?
"I think we value their input a littledifferentview.Plus, you know, the new coaching staff on the offensive side of the ball, they're all coming from, you know, they're coming from different places, and they have different perspectives. And, you know, that that's just good to have an infusion of different ideas." - Mickey Loomis
John Hendrix
There's no greater need for the Saints other than the offensive line.Thisis a team thatbelieves in building from the trenches within, andthere arejust too many question marks surrounding their tackle situation.If I'm the Saints, I'm looking at who takes their right tackle spot for RyanRamczykbecause the outlookdoesn't sound promisingfor him.Even if Ramczyk somehow makes it back onto the field, his future career is in jeopardy.
Bob Rose
OFFENSIVETACKLE,given the issues this team has at the position,I thinkit'sfair to question the sanity of the entire organization if they wentin anotherdirection with their first pick.
Ross Jackson
Offensive tackle. With uncertainty looming over startingrighttackle RyanRamczyk'sfuture, the Saints may be looking for an immediate starteron the end. The team wants Trevor Penning to pan out at left tackle, so finding his bookend isgoing to beimperative. However, if the right prospect is on the board at 14, drafting a top left tackle should notbe ruled outeither.
Kyle T. Mosley
The need is left tackle. James Hurst has done an admirable job, but Trevor Penning's role in that position looks questionable.Ifthe team's brass believes Joe Alt is worth trading up, get him. If either Fuaga, Fautanu, Fashanu, or Latham may be the "really goodplayer" at No.14Mickey Loomis believes exists, make the pick. Moving Penning to the left guard seems plausible, or possibly backing up Ramczyk at right tackle. He still has value and will learn the game.
2. What's the likelihood of the Saints trading out of the No. 14 spot? Up or Down?
"What's the value of that? What's it going to take? What's thehistory,in our league when somebody's traded from 14 to 10, 14 to 9, whatever? And what's the history of going from 14 back to, you know, 20? So I'll have in my mind over the next few days, you know, not just me, but our staff will be looking at that and saying, what's it take?" - MickeyLoomis
John Hendrix
Mickey Loomis joked on Tuesday afternoon and said the Saints are 15-0when it comes totrading up.What'sinteresting is thatLoomis has said beforethatthey'llstart working the phones between nowbeforethe draft begins to get a sense of coststo potentially move up and assess moving back.They'lldo their homework for10spots up and10spots back.Whileit'snot in their DNA to trade back, thatdoesn'tmeanthattheyshouldn'tlook at what they could gainbeingthattheydon'thave a 3rd or 4th Round pick.They'vealways lived by a'going get a player that you love'mentality, but they also believethat there will be a good bit ofplayers available when they pick at 14th.I'mnot in favor of moving up, but if you can gain somethingthat'sworth it and still havea strongcloud of players that could be there when you do pick, then you haveto at least contemplate it.
Bob Rose
I'dbeextremely surprisedif the Saints traded back from 14. In the 23 years Mickey Loomis has been GM,they'vedone it just once. Trading up is more their S.O.P., though their resourcesto do sothis year are limited--at best.
Ross Jackson
Highly unlikely.The Saints havenot tradeddown since2007,andwhile adding picks could be helpful, they could consider a move back later in the draft.They need an impact player theyreallylike at 14. While trading up in the first is certainly more likely, the Saints are in a good position at 14 to address theirbiggestneedoneof the top talentsat the position.
Kyle T. Mosley
The draft has plenty of value in the third round and fourth rounds. New Orleans may want to land a pick in those rounds before waiting until the fifth round. If another team makes the team a proposal where the Saints won't drop down more than two to five spots and pick up additional picks, it would make sense. Again, seeing them trade up for a chance at Alt or Fuaga wouldn't surprise me. Most likely DOWN.
3. In your opinion, What player should the team pursue if they move up in the draft?
"Well, if you're trading up into the top new, I think that's where you might as well just throw the charts out the window. Right? I think later in the draft, you know, the charts come into play, and you can rely on thema little bitmore in terms of the value. But, you know, when it comes to trading into the top 10 or top 15 even, and getting a quarterback, that's when the values can get pretty skewed." - MickeyLoomis
John Hendrix
Righttackle is their pressing need, and looking at the true ones in this draft,it'sTaliese Fuaga and JC Latham.Fuaga would be the guy I would be concernedgoesbefore the Saints pick, but Latham isabsolutelymy guy when it comes to whoI'dlike.They'dbe happy with either, butthere are some legitimate concerns with Latham.Trading up for a Joe Altshouldn'teven be a consideration.
Bob Rose
If the Saints trade up in the 1st,it'llbe for anaforementionedoffensive tackle. Yes, the position is deep, but I can see New Orleansmaking a moveup to get Olu Fashanu or Taliese Fuaga. The spot to watch for a New Orleans trade is late Day 2/early Day 3 (3rd/4th rounds).It'sbeen the sweet spot for Saints trades in recent years,andtheydon'tcurrently have a pick between #45 and #150. With Four 5th Round picks,I'dbe shocked if theydidn'tmake a move.
Ross Jackson
Iftheymove up later in the draft, targeting players like Oregon cornerback Khyree Jackson and wide receiver Brenden Ricemakessense. Right behind their needs on the offensive line is their need for a possession receiver, a role that Rice could take on well. Jackson could be an intriguing selection with starting corner Paulson Adebo entering a contract year.Having more depth on the perimeter and someinsuranceshould Adebo not extendorshouldMarshonLattimore'sfuture outlook change at somepoint.
Kyle T. Mosley
It's tricky to say who the team will target. If New Orleans' intel about Ramcyzk's knee leads them to believe solidifying the right side is paramount, Oregon State's Taliese Fuaga is the selection.
The Saints News Network will have draft night reports from the New Orleans Saints headquarters. John Hendrix and Ross Jackson will cover the draftees, Dennis Allen's comments, and more. Bob Rose and Brendan Boylan will have live draft coverage on The Bayou Blitz Podcast.
