2011 NFL Draft Results: Saints Draft Recap

by Dave Cariello on Apr 30, 2011 6:00 AM CDT

Day two of the 2011 NFL Draft is now officially in the books and let's be honest, if I had told you last week that the Saints would draft Cameron Jordan and Mark Ingram and Martez Wilson you would probably have told me I was bat poop crazy after catching your breath from the uncontrollable laughter. But the joke would be on you because that's exactly the rabbit Sean Payton, Mickey Loomis, Rick Reiprish and company have managed to pull out of their hat thus far in this years draft.

With no pick in the second round, the Saints followed up Thursday night's masterful drafting performance with more draft thievery last night when they were able to pick up Illinois linebacker Martez Wilson with the 72nd overall pick in the third round. That's right, the Saints nabbed a linebacker, who many projected to be taken in the first round, on the second day of the draft. Winning! I hope current Saints linebacker Scott Shanle packed an extra sandwich in his lunch pail because the competition for a starting roster spot just got a little stiffer.

Defense was the theme of the night as the Saints then settled on Louisville cornerback Johnny Patrick later in the third round with the 88th overall pick. Cornerback isn't necessarily an immediate need for the Saints defense and Patrick's skill set isn't as well known, so this selection finally brought two days of fan euphoria back down to earth a bit. Given the front office's brilliant maneuvering through their first three draft picks of the year, however, I think we should all give the kid a chance.

Below is a recap of the Saints 2011 NFL draft class thus far, including their grades, as voted by you guys. Click the letter grade to see the poll results.

Round	Pick	Player	Position	College	Grade
1	24th	Cameron Jordan	DE	California	A
1	28th	Mark Ingram	RB	Alabama	A
3	72nd	Martez Wilson	LB	Illinois	A
3	88th	Johnny Patrick	CB	Louisville	B

The question today is: what should the Saints do on the final day of the draft? With only two picks remaining, both later in the 7th round, what needs remain to be addressed? Will they make a move and trade up to get someone special?

Be here later for our final open thread of the 2011 NFL Draft, opening at 11am CT.

Poll

What position still needs to be addressed by the Saints during the draft today?

DL

88 votes

LB

70 votes

OT

95 votes

Specialist

54 votes

BPA

57 votes

364 votes | Poll has closed

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Comments

You said, "Stiffer."

I hope this guy takes Shanle’s job. Still not too happy about the Ingram deal. We need more line help.

by xen-cuts on Apr 30, 2011 7:07 AM CDT via mobile reply actions

Still not too happy about the Ingram deal

You must be feeling pretty lonely.

In Breesus' name we play

by Breesus Christ Superstar on Apr 30, 2011 8:24 AM CDT up reply actions

it’s not even the season yet.

by xen-cuts on Apr 30, 2011 8:49 AM CDT up reply actions

In Breesus' name we play

by Breesus Christ Superstar on Apr 30, 2011 8:51 AM CDT up reply actions

xen-cuts searches in vain for the bright side

It was good while it lasted.

by MtnExile on Apr 30, 2011 8:52 AM CDT up reply actions 1 recs

it’s true, I want more 3rd round picks! Not more pre-used up running backs who will last a max of 3 seasons.

by xen-cuts on Apr 30, 2011 8:53 AM CDT up reply actions

Three Super Bowl winning seasons.

If I am good I could add years to my life / I would rather add some life to my years.

by Jay Preece on Apr 30, 2011 4:15 PM CDT up reply actions

at least one superbowl winning locked out offseason….

by xen-cuts on Apr 30, 2011 9:00 PM CDT up reply actions

I'm with you on the Ingram trade

by were gonna need a bigger boat on Apr 30, 2011 9:04 AM CDT up reply actions

You’re both on the List. Hey, you repeated yourselves. Tit for tat. That doesn’t really make sense, I just wanted to put images in your heads.

When I get off of this mountain, you know where I want to go
Straight down the Mississippi river to the Gulf of Mexico

by stujo4 on Apr 30, 2011 10:14 AM CDT up reply actions

I like images

by were gonna need a bigger boat on Apr 30, 2011 1:14 PM CDT up reply actions

picture books are cool. I also like coloring.

by xen-cuts on Apr 30, 2011 9:01 PM CDT up reply actions

I like turtles.

"It's more than a handful. It's a handsful."

by Dan Kelly on Apr 30, 2011 10:05 PM CDT up reply actions

I love lamp

Win Now...
WINGRAMANIA

by Hans Petersen on Apr 30, 2011 10:57 PM CDT up reply actions

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CMNry4PE93Y

"It's more than a handful. It's a handsful."

by Dan Kelly on May 1, 2011 11:43 AM CDT up reply actions

yeah

I was going Anchorman with my reference – had never seen that Zombie-turtle kidvid. Thanks for the hookup.

Win Now...
WINGRAMANIA

by Hans Petersen on May 1, 2011 9:53 PM CDT up reply actions

I first saw it on Tosh.O on comedy Central… hilarious “web clip” show with one of my favorite comedians.

"It's more than a handful. It's a handsful."

by Dan Kelly on May 2, 2011 10:35 AM CDT up reply actions

don't be surprised...

if they take a WR. He could double as a KR as well (although with new KR rules, I think that got a little less important.

"But tonight the Superbowl belongs to the City of New Orleans" - Roger Goodell 2/7/2010

by SaintBevo on Apr 30, 2011 7:31 AM CDT reply actions

I’ll buy that for a dollar.

"It's more than a handful. It's a handsful."

by Dan Kelly on Apr 30, 2011 10:24 AM CDT up reply actions

I think that even moreso

at this point we have no idea who the Saints will take in Rd. 7.

Heck, they might even give up the 7s and next year’s 4th to get back into the 5th.

Having said that, my fearless prediction is that I think it’ll be O-line/BPA.

Win Now...
WINGRAMANIA

by Hans Petersen on Apr 30, 2011 7:35 AM CDT reply actions

OL

But another LB prospect would be good. They seem to make the best ST players.

by Ponysaints on Apr 30, 2011 7:38 AM CDT reply actions

you guys going to laugh at me but I am calling a Safty out of the 7th. not sure who

by Ranger565 on Apr 30, 2011 7:59 AM CDT reply actions

Not picking till 7th so I'm going fishin... you guys n gals have fun

When I say WHO DAT U say TWO DAT!!!

by cajuncommando58 on Apr 30, 2011 8:13 AM CDT reply actions

My prediction

We will pick before the 7th.

It was good while it lasted.

by MtnExile on Apr 30, 2011 8:53 AM CDT reply actions

we should trade more 1st round picks to do that! Can’t let ATL be the only complete idiots in the draft!

by xen-cuts on Apr 30, 2011 8:54 AM CDT up reply actions

We didn't trade away a 1st rounder

We gave New England our 2012 for their 2011. We still come away with a net two 1st-rounders in two years. Our 2nd rounder was the service fee on the transaction, and it was worth it to get Ingram.

It was good while it lasted.

by MtnExile on Apr 30, 2011 9:36 AM CDT up reply actions

exactly...

we two first round players for two first round picks and one second round pick.

"It's more than a handful. It's a handsful."

by Dan Kelly on Apr 30, 2011 10:26 AM CDT up reply actions

we got two…

"It's more than a handful. It's a handsful."

by Dan Kelly on Apr 30, 2011 10:26 AM CDT up reply actions

The Draft

has gone way better than anyone could logically have expected. I expect more good things to happen with the late picks.

"Emancipate yourself from mental slavery, none but ourselves can free our minds" -Bob Marley

by PanheadCatahoula on Apr 30, 2011 12:07 PM CDT reply actions

Okay, I guess I'm pretty happy, but...

I was just thinking…shouldn’t we have taken Ingram at the 23rd pick and then done some trading to get a DE who is a pass rusher? And, if we took Ingram 23rd pick, wouldn’t we have gotten the 28th pick or some other pick in the first round or early 2nd (say a DE or a LB) without giving up so much? I don’t know the draft so well, so maybe someone could enlighten me. i think Jordan seems like a good player, but I am a little tired of having DE’s that don’t get sacks. WE NEED A PASS RUSH!! A REAL PASS RUSH!!!

If Pro is the opposite of Con, what is the opposite of Progress? Congress!
-Men's Restroom - House of Representatives, Washington, DC

by Philinwood on Apr 30, 2011 9:49 PM CDT reply actions