The Saints had a very solid draft this year, although their approach to taking the best available player may leave some holes unfilled. Meachem was a solid first round selection, although I was slightly surprised to see them not target a cornerback. If nothing else, it means Devery Henderson's time with the team is limited. They reached a little for Usama Young, but he is a very athletic cornerback with the speed to match up with any receiver. Alleman had great value in the late third round; he could push for playing time early. Even though the last thing the Saints needed was another running back, you have to love their selection of Antonio Pittman. He was a second round value and he could be a steal in the 4th round. He's got the potential to be a starting running back, and he could eventually make Deuce McAllister expendable. Bushrod is a small school prospect that rose up the boards late. He has great size, but he is very raw. He'll be a prospect that won't see the field much as a rookie. Jones is another small school guy with the great speed. He's similar to Usama Young and he could also see time as a kick/punt returner. The Saints needed a linebacker, but Marvin Mitchell wasn't the answer. He's a special teams guy at best. The one thing missing from this draft was a defensive tackle. They passed on a number of players that could have helped, but instead they stockpiled offensive linemen and cornerbacks. Overall, it was still a very solid draft and they got a good mix of guys ready to contribute and some prospects to develop over time.
Grade: B+