There are a lot of football talking heads who like to say that you can't actually judge the quality of a draft class for at least three years, if not more. To those people I say one thing: Shutup!

Are they right? Of course they are. How can you evaluate something or someone without having any sample to analyze. You can't. It's impossible.

Yet right now, all across the internet there are hundreds if not thousands of writers, bloggers, losers and analysts assigning grades to draft picks and overall team draft performances for your edification. How are they doing this without the aforementioned samples to analyze? They're pulling it out of their booty's. So I now present you with Canal Street Chronicles' 2010 Saints draft grades.

Yeah, that's right! Why should I get left out of all the fun? I've got a perfectly good booty. So I'm going to assign subjective grades to players I barely know anything about and whose future success I couldn't possibly predict. They'll be based only on my personal opinions, just a smidgen of research and my current emotional state, which at the current moment is mildly confused and heavily inebriated. But there will be a method to my madness. My evaluations will take into account player potential, perceived draft value, position of need, fan approval and whether they're expected to start next year. 

Let's get on with it and dive head first into my current opinion of the Saints 2010 draft class. As always, your votes, opinions and comments are always welcome.

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The 2010 NFL Draft is officially in the books. The New Orleans Saints made three picks on the final day of draft action:

• Round 4, Pick 25 (123) - Al Woods, DT, LSU
• Round 5, Pick 27 (158) - Matt Tennant, C, Boston College
• Round 7, Pick 32 (239) - Sean Canfield, QB, Oregon St.

Make the jump for all of your transcripts, linkage and video from the days action. 

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With their seventh round, 239th overall pick - their last in this years draft - the New Orleans Saints selected quarterback Sean Canfield from Oregon State and put the finishing touches on quite an interesting draft, to say the least.

Not crazy about this one but that's been the theme of the this years draft for the Saints so why should I have expected otherwise. Did they really have to use a draft pick on Canfield? Surely there was a chance he would have been available as an UDFA? For those Saints fans questioning the future of the teams quarterback position in the era after Drew Brees, Canfield may be your answer. At the very least, he'll be a fun pet project for Sean Payton to tinker with until tossing by the wayside. 

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via www.theherdsword.com

Trading to get into the fifth round of the 2010 NFL Draft, the Saints have selected Matt Tennant, center from Boston College. 

Can't say I didn't see this one coming. To quote myself two hours ago...

Pay attention though, because the team has been known to trade next years picks to get back into this years action.  

That's exactly what the Saints just did, trading their 2011 4th round pick to the Jaguars and jumping into the fifth round to grab Tennant. 

I'm okay with this pick, though I guess I should just give up my hopes and dreams of the team drafting an outside linebacker. Or any linebacker for that matter. The Saints are pretty thin at center behind veteran starter Jonathan Goodwin so this gives the team a chance to groom someone and have them locked and loaded when Goodwin's time comes to an end. 

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Finally! The Saints address one of their top two needs in this years draft by selecting defensive tackle Al Woods from LSU. Trading their 4th round pick and later 6th round pick to the Cardinals, the Saints were able to move up seven spots and grab they guy they really want.

The Saints now only have one 7th round pick left in this years draft. Pay attention though, because the team has been known to trade next years picks to get back into this years action.  

This is probably my favorite pick by the Saints in this years draft, though that's not saying much with some of the more...unique...picks the team has made thus far. Woods is obviously not an outside linebacker, the position I think the Saints need to address most, but he definitely provides help at the Saints other area of need. The trade the Saints pulled to acquire Woods, however, leaves them handcuffed for the rest of the draft. Is "trade down" even in the Saints draft vocabulary?

What are you guys thinking? Have the Saints righted the draft ship with this selection? 

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I don't know whether it's the new format or the absurdity with which this draft seems to be playing out for the Saints but these past two days have been emotionally exhausting and mentally taxing on my fandom. It all ends today, however, with the final four rounds of the 2010 NFL Draft. Currently, the Saints only have three picks left:

• Round 4, Pick 32 (130)
• Round 6, Pick 32 (201)
• Round 7, Pick 32 (239)

But a possible trade is always imminent and the Jammal Brown rumors keep swirling. Will the Saints finally use one of their picks on an outside linebacker or defensive tackle today? They better! Keep your eyes glued to your television and/or computer screen today to find out. Follow along with each pick with the NFL's Draft Tracker.

In case you need to catch up with all of your Saints draft coverage from SB Nation and Da Chronic, here is a list of informative posts you may want to read: 

• Mocking the Draft: First 3 Rounds by the Numbers
• Jimmy Graham Draft Reaction
• Charles Brown Draft Reaction
• Round One Notes
• Patrick Robinson: Complete Player Bio
• Sean Payton's Round One Press Conference Transcript
• Patrick Robinson Draft Reaction
• Answering the Bell
• Facts & Figures
• Odds & Ends
• Draft Notes, Part I
• Draft Notes, Part II
• All in the Family. 

You can find any and all of these draft-related posts in our 2010 NFL Draft section, on the left sidebar. If you have any questions about the draft, chances are that's where you'll find your answer.

After the jump I've hooked you guys up with Mocking the Draft's best remaining players. 

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Rounds two and three of the 2010 NFL Draft are now in the book and for New Orleans Saints fans, it was chock full of surprises. With the final pick in the second round, the Saints chose offensive tackle Charles Brown from USC. After going against the grain and selecting an offensive player in round two, the Saints astounded again by picking Miami tight end Jimmy Graham.

In case you missed anything from yesterday's action, I've wrapped it all up in a neat little bow right here. On top of a little more information about each of these players skills and abilities, I have compiled a pretty impressive collection of links, tweets, transcripts and videos from around the internet. It's basically a "Who Dat Say" for yesterdays NFL draft shenanigans and it's just as comprehensive. 

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And the hits just keep on coming! With their third round pick the Saints surprise yet again this year by selecting tight end Jimmy Graham from the University of Miami. 

The Saints really are sticking with the "Best Player Available" method of drafting. It is not a myth. Why else would they have selected Graham, who has four years of college basketball experience and only one year on the football field, with players like Everson Griffen and Eric Norwood still on the board. Tight end is certainly not the Saints strongest position but it's definitely not a pressing position of need. Not like, say, outside linebacker or defensive tackle.  

The Saints have drafted outside the box at every turn so far this year but this one is probably most puzzling to me. But my mantra these last two days must remain the same: Surely they know what they're doing. 

Does this mean the end for fan favorite Billy Miller? And what the hell kinda crazy ass tweet will Shockey put out first about his new teammate from his alma mater? I can't wait!

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