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With the 15th pick in the 2013 NFL draft, the New Orleans Saints select Kenny Vaccaro.
With Jarvis Jones, Sharrif Floyd, and several other respectable front-seven defensive stars still available, that is a statement that I quite frankly didn't want to hear.
I told my dad that if the Saints picked Vaccaro over Jones, I wouldn't watch the rest of the first round. Of course I didn't live up to that because I had been awaiting the draft for so long. I could smell the selection from a mile away, though.
For a good bit of time Jones was a unanimous top five pick in the draft; Floyd was rated by many to go to Oakland at third overall. So it was a gift that these guys fell down as far as they did.
In fact, I participated in a mock draft with Zoneblitz.com and laughed hysterically when Floyd slipped down to the Saints. I thought, "How could these goofballs let Floyd slide?" So I selected the 2012 first team All-SEC Gator in a matter of seconds. Never in my dreams did I even think that was really possible.
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By no means am I downplaying Vaccaro and his abilities. 107 tackles, two interceptions, two forced fumbles and five deflected passes in his senior season are good stats. I just think they took a pass on some better options that were on the table. They could have easily gotten a better value player by taking Jones or Floyd. Trading down to build up some artillery in the draft wouldn't have been a terrible idea either. They still would have had the opportunity to pick up a guy like Alec Ogletree or Xavier Rhodes.
Hear me out. I'm not saying that Vaccaro was a bad selection. I think he will be a tremendous addition to the defense and will be a good contributor. He was the first safety taken off the board for a reason. But mark my words, Floyd and Jones both will be better.
I really hope I'm wrong because obviously I want what's best for the Saints. I just have a bad feeling that Mickey and Co. will be regretting this one in the long run. Regret not for what they have, but for what they could have had.
Nevertheless, Vaccaro is a part of our brotherhood now and I can't wait to see him and the rest of our boys in action!