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Robicheaux: Seven Round Mock Draft
NOFP contributor Justin Robicheaux chimes in with
his seven-round mock
posted April 18, 2005 - print me!
neworleansprofootball.com
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Auburn CB Carlos Rogers |
This coming Saturday and Sunday are the two most interesting,
intriguing, and nerve-racking days for any NFL fan during the
offseason. From pick No. 1 to No. 255 we wait and see which team
will draft the “can’t miss” and which team reaches
for the “sleeper.” And as much rubbish is made about
the Saints and their recent draft’s, one thing is for sure
– they make moves that are interesting.
From the trading of Pat Swilling during the 1993 Draft, to the
trading of the No. 17 and No. 18 picks in 2003 No.6 for Jonathan
Sullivan, to trading the entire 1999 Draft for Ricky Williams,
the Saints have not been one to shy away from shifting spots.
And this year is not different. The Saints currently house three
of the most talented defensive ends in the NFL. One in particular,
Darren Howard, is expected to garner the Black and Gold another
first day draft choice and possibly a second day selection.
So without further ado, I present to you the 2005 mock draft,
with trades, for the New Orleans Saints.
First Round (16): Carlos Rogers (Auburn), CB
Rogers is not the quickest cornerback in the draft but
he could be among the most athletic. Rogers is very similar to
current Saints cornerback Mike McKenzie in that he is not afraid
to put his head down and tackle somebody. With the Saints currently
stagnant in contract talks with McKenzie, and searching for an
answer to remedy the downward spiral that is known as Fred Thomas’
career, this pick makes sense.
Second Round (40): Channing Crowder (Florida), MLB
Something just tells me that this Gator will fall to
the Saints at this spot and be a force on the defense for years
to come. At Florida, Crowder was always around the rock and made
big play after big play for the Zooker. Crowder may shift over
to the outside to allow Courtney Watson to play inside. Crowder
has tremendous speed and needs more time on the field before he
can become a consistent backer.
Second Round (42): Mike Patterson (USC), DT
The Saints trade defensive end Darren Howard for this
pick and a conditional 2006 draft choice. You know the Saints
don’t want to spend another first day draft pick on a defensive
tackle. However, Patterson does something New Orleans’ last
first day defensive tackle does not – spends more time on
the defensive line than the buffet line. Patterson was one of
the premier defensive tackles in the collegiate ranks. He is quick
off the snap and relies heavily on instincts and aggression to
make plays in the backfield.
Third Round (82): Adam Terry (Syracuse), OT
Terry is a very, very big boy. At 6’8 Terry is
a terrorizing blocker with outstanding height and adequate agility.
At Syra-cuse Terry started for three years at left tackle. With
the void at right tackle from Mr. False Start (Victory Riley)
and the slow progress of Jon Stinchcomb, expect Terry to come
in and give the Saints a certified starter.
Fourth Round (118): Adrian McPherson (Florida State),
QB
The Saints might tell you they don’t have a need
at quarterback, but when Todd Bouman is your backup and your starter
begins flinging passes to offensive tackles, something must be
done. Insert McPherson. Adrian played half a year with Florida
State, throwing 12 TDs and 1 INT, before being removed from the
team for stealing a check in 2002. McPherson is a phenomenal athlete
that is climbing up everyone’s board, including the Saints.
Fifth Round (152): Abraham Elimimian (Hawaii), CB
After spending back-to-back picks on the offensive side
of the ball, the Saints return to a weakness on defense. Corner-back
has been a position the Saints have struggled with over the past
few seasons and hopefully have come to the realiza-tion that it
is a desperate need. Elimimian is a good cover corner and can
jump with the best of them. One incredible stat is that Elimimian
did not allow a touchdown reception in his last 27 games. Elimimian
will not be expected to start, but should be a considerable upgrade
to the nickel or dime slot.
Sixth Round (193): Adam Bergen (Lehigh), TE
The Saints don’t have a need at tight end but
are always looking to upgrade and draft the best player available.
In this case, Bergen is the best player available. In 35 games
at Lehigh, Bergen caught 149 passes for 1,736 yards and 17 touch-downs.
With Ernie Conwell aging and Boo Williams not scaring anyone,
Bergen could find himself pushing for a tight end position with
the team come August.
Seventh Round (232): Matt Grootegoed (USC), SS
Grootegoed was one of the better college linebackers
in 2004, but could find himself on an NFL roster as a strong safety.
The 5-foot, 10-inch player possesses great coverage skills and
could be a valuable experiment for some lucky team. For his first
two years Grootegoed will be a special team’s player, but
after that expect him to be a solid strong safety.
Justin Robicheaux
Sports Editor - Daily Review
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