Saints Sign Defensive Lineman Jimmy Wilkerson

by Dave Cariello on Apr 20, 2010 11:01 AM CDT

Hat tip to Grumps for first posting this as a FanShot.

Jason LaCanfora broke the news via Twitter about an hour ago.

Saints have signed DE Jimmy Wilkerson to a one-year deal. Nice move for another veteran fee agent for their rotation.

Jimmy Wilkerson

#97 / Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Height: 6-2

Weight: 270

Born: Jan 04, 1981

College:

		Sacks		Interceptions			Tackles
	G	Sacks	YdsL	Int	Yds	IntTD	Solo	Ast	Total
2009 - Jimmy Wilkerson	14	6	35	0	0	0	28	17	45

Wilkerson joins Alex Brown as one of only two big signings by the Saints so far this off-season and adds even more versatility and depth to the defensive line.

Of course this opens things up for discussion regarding what position the Saints will draft with their first round pick. It's looking more and more like outside linebacker is becoming their biggest position of need.

What are you guys thinking and feeling?

Poll

Do you like this signing?

Yes

351 votes

No

14 votes

Undecided

86 votes

451 votes | Poll has closed

Tweet Comment 33 comments | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

Hargrove bound to Detroit now???

"Saints don't commit sins, they exorcise demons. The NFL most accurate passer was preaching, and the league MVP watched as the Game MVP delivered an impressive sermon"

by bondcrash on Apr 20, 2010 11:03 AM CDT reply actions

no way

just insurance/depth at DE. means we can take best player at 32 (if TE gresham falls, i fully expect us to pull the trigger on him)

by jful on Apr 20, 2010 11:09 AM CDT up reply actions

take the best

we fill our needs better in the late rounds anyway

I like hamburgers!!

by DrewBreesManCrush on Apr 20, 2010 11:12 AM CDT up reply actions

I’m starting to think Pittsburgh might trade down in the first round and take Tebow. Think about it. Right now, they’re sitting in no man’s land at 18, without a glaring need whose position value matches that projected range. By trading down, they’d gain a few picks and gain a choir boy back up QB (something they need anyway) to help steer Big Ben in the right direction. It would basically be like drafting Jiminy Cricket as a long term insurance policy.

"I was not on the boat in question." -Darren Sharper

by coldpizza on Apr 20, 2010 11:23 AM CDT reply actions

I'm liking that idea.

If you find yourself in a fair fight, you didn't plan your mission properly.

by maybetoday on Apr 20, 2010 11:24 AM CDT up reply actions

i couldnt imagine tebow playing qb for 3-4 years

and any team would be retarded to draft him before colt.

I like hamburgers!!

by DrewBreesManCrush on Apr 20, 2010 12:21 PM CDT up reply actions

I'm still thinking we'll go DT in the first round, but LB is definitely in the mix

by Andrew Juge on Apr 20, 2010 11:25 AM CDT reply actions

Besides

There huge on their current back-up, Dixon.

by AJG on Apr 20, 2010 11:43 AM CDT reply actions

There's no reason to waste a first round draft-pick

on a 3rd string QB who needs several years to work up to being a second string QB.

by AJG on Apr 20, 2010 11:45 AM CDT up reply actions

I think this stomps out any chance of us taking a DE in the first round unless somebody amazing falls to us.

"I want to hand this trophy to the MVP of the Super Bowl -- and the MVP of the entire league.''
-- Saints coach Sean Payton, handing the Vince Lombardi Trophy to Drew Brees after Super Bowl 44.

by VAsaintsfan on Apr 20, 2010 11:53 AM CDT reply actions

We can speculate all we want to, but we'll never know...

I am still hoping that the Saints will work out a trade deal for Rocky McIntosh to fill the OLB hole left open by the loss of Fujita which would essentially free them up to any and all possibilities of moving up/down or even sideways in the draft and be truly open enough needs wise to be able to truly take BPA with every single pick that they have throughout this year’s draft.

You could literally have millions of mock drafts drawn up and never hit it even close to exactly right because of all the negotiations that won’t go down until teams get on the clock to work out trade deals on the fly.

Either way it plays out, I expect an exciting draft this year for our Saints!!!

by realheavyd on Apr 20, 2010 11:58 AM CDT reply actions

If we get a deal for Rocky McIntosh

I’m gonna go ahead and declare us repreat Super Bowl Champs. That would make for one amazing defense when you look at our improvements this offseason.

"I want to hand this trophy to the MVP of the Super Bowl -- and the MVP of the entire league.''
-- Saints coach Sean Payton, handing the Vince Lombardi Trophy to Drew Brees after Super Bowl 44.

by VAsaintsfan on Apr 20, 2010 12:17 PM CDT up reply actions

Agreed! I have fingers crossed on the McIntosh deal going down in the next 2 1/2 days!

by realheavyd on Apr 20, 2010 12:19 PM CDT up reply actions

Can't go wrong with D-line depth

by Billy Gomila on Apr 20, 2010 12:00 PM CDT reply actions

Couple of thoughts

1. Saints are still concerned Will Smith will get a suspension this season for starcaps, and are adding DE depth
2. Saints are going to go all-in to get a LB in the draft even if it means trading up.
3. Saints are getting a steal if this talented player comes back from adversity and continues to improve a la Vilma/Hargrove. He’s another project that will likely pay off.

In Breesus' name we play

by Breesus Christ Superstar on Apr 20, 2010 12:03 PM CDT reply actions

Trading options

All this means is that we have more options to trade with. And if none of those trades work out, then we still have good quality guys at those positions. We now have leverage!

by 117decibels on Apr 20, 2010 12:15 PM CDT reply actions

Exactly 117decibels! See my comment above...

by realheavyd on Apr 20, 2010 12:17 PM CDT up reply actions

Is anyone planning on buying a Jimmy Wilkerson jersey this season?

"I was not on the boat in question." -Darren Sharper

by coldpizza on Apr 20, 2010 1:04 PM CDT reply actions

We don't even know his new # yet since we have J. Charleston as #97 already...

by realheavyd on Apr 20, 2010 1:15 PM CDT up reply actions

Were u trying 2 make a smart ass comment, or did it just sound like one by default?

by realheavyd on Apr 20, 2010 1:18 PM CDT up reply actions

I honestly can’t recall. That was well over an hour ago.

"I was not on the boat in question." -Darren Sharper

by coldpizza on Apr 20, 2010 2:40 PM CDT up reply actions

If he gets to six sacks I'll buy one... lol

"Saints don't commit sins, they exorcise demons. The NFL most accurate passer was preaching, and the league MVP watched as the Game MVP delivered an impressive sermon"

by bondcrash on Apr 20, 2010 1:23 PM CDT up reply actions

Grant got 5.5 sacks and a forced fumble last year… Did you get a #94?

:-)

Pigs have flown! Hell has frozen over! The Saints HAVE WON the Superbowl!!

by Dan Kelly on Apr 20, 2010 2:11 PM CDT up reply actions

By signing Wilkerson

I personally believe that Loomis, is seriously looking at an offensive player.
And unfortunatly for us ESPN has Jerry Hughes being drafted between 15-25.

by jeremysherwin on Apr 20, 2010 1:27 PM CDT reply actions

As it stands the Saints have 6 picks...

…and if you really think that at least one of those won’t be offense, you are just plain ignorant! Sorry, but it’s true.

by realheavyd on Apr 20, 2010 1:31 PM CDT up reply actions

If I had to guess … 3 offense, 3 defense.

"I was not on the boat in question." -Darren Sharper

by coldpizza on Apr 20, 2010 1:39 PM CDT up reply actions

I'm thinking 4 defense, 2 offense

in no particular order (b/c really, who knows?):
OLB, DT, S, DE
RB, OT (project)

I think they’ll pick up a TE in UFA, like Richard Dickson (I think he should but won’t get drafted)

by Andrew Tessier on Apr 20, 2010 3:07 PM CDT up reply actions

About the same, though I don’t think they’ll draft a DE, the safety may wind up being a CB, and they’ll draft two offensive linemen. A TE may or may not factor in. Tough call on that. If not, they’ll probably just re-sign Billy Miller.

"I was not on the boat in question." -Darren Sharper

by coldpizza on Apr 20, 2010 3:46 PM CDT up reply actions