A Look At Where the Saints Pick in the 2011 Draft

by David "Satch" Kelly on Mar 31, 2011 3:30 PM CDT

As a result of earlier trades, the Saints only have six draft picks this year and one of those is a compensatory pick. You'll remember that they had six picks in 2010 and only four picks in 2009, also as a result of trades. Given the success that Payton and Loomis have had by trading away draft picks for players that fill a need, it's hard to argue with their strategy. Does anyone disagree that Jonathan Vilma, Jeremy Shockey, and David Thomas have been well worth what the Saints gave up in draft picks? Each was a big contributor in our Super Bowl XLIV championship year.

I never get tired of typing that. Super Bowl XLIV Champions. Ahhh, that felt good. It still seems surreal that the Saints actually won a Lombardi Trophy.

Make the jump for a complete list of the Saints' draft positions.

Round 1 - 24th overall pick
Round 2 - 56th overall pick
Round 3a - 72nd overall pick; from Washington as a result of the Jammal Brown trade
Round 3b - 88th overall pick
Round 4 - No pick; traded to Jacksonville during 2010 draft in exchange for 5th round selection of C Matt Tennant
Round 5 - No pick; to Washington as a result of the Jammal Brown trade
Round 6 - No pick; traded to New England in exchange for TE David Thomas in 2009 and now belonging to Denver
Round 7a - 225th overall pick
Round 7b - 242nd overall pick; compensatory pick as a result of losing LB Scott Fujita to Cleveland. Dave explains it here.

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Comments

Like the Dave Thomas trade

if only for the burger related banter which helps us all thru quiet times.
What did we give up for Vilma? All I recall from those days was that he
didn`t like the scheme in New York.

That could`ve been me,a useless knome fishing
for turds in a birthing pool.

by saint_chew on Mar 31, 2011 3:55 PM CDT reply actions

Im probably wrong

But im thinking we gave up a third for Vilma.

"My rule of life prescribed as an absolutely sacred rite smoking cigars and also the drinking of alcohol before, after and if need be during all meals and in the intervals between them."-Winston Churchill

by cscmember on Mar 31, 2011 4:03 PM CDT up reply actions

That's what I thought

Two Dat!! Who Dat!?

by ReggieVilma on Mar 31, 2011 4:29 PM CDT via mobile up reply actions

It was two picks we traded

…a 4th round pick in 2008 and a 3rd round pick in 2009. I think he’s been well worth it. I loves me some Vilma!

"As soon as Tony (Dungy) said we had no chance, I knew we had 'em right where we wanted 'em"--Coach Sean Payton right after Super Bowl XLIV with the Lombardi Trophy firmly in hand. WHO DAT!!

by David "Satch" Kelly on Mar 31, 2011 4:56 PM CDT up reply actions 1 recs

Our shiny silver trophy agrees with your assessment.

"Aristotle was not Belgian. The central message of Buddhism is not 'every man for himself.' And the London Underground is not a political movement. Those are all mistakes, Otto. I looked 'em up."

by jeff.l.b on Mar 31, 2011 4:58 PM CDT up reply actions

Actually, we originally traded the fourth round pick ONLY. The trade contract did, however, give two options for the price to “upgrade” the next year. And because of playing time the pick upgraded to a 3rd round pick, and we in turn got back our “original” pick in the form of the Jet’s fourth rounder that year. This is how we were able to draft two players in the course of about 5 or 6 picks in the fourth round that year.

And this is why the Shockey trade was dangerous — even if I do still feel it was mostly worth it. He cost us a 2nd rounder plus another (5th? 7th? Can’t remember now). And had we extended Vilma’s contract or even started negotiation the pick for him would have upgraded to a 2nd… but that was already gone, so we would have had to give up a FIRST instead. Which is why we had to be very careful to let Vilma’s contract expire, even as we admitted we wanted him back and he said he wanted to come back, we had to make sure that it was FULLY dead before negotiations could commence. And this is why we got to sweat for awhile before he could be resigned.

by FriarBob on Apr 1, 2011 12:33 AM CDT up reply actions