The Saints are in win now mode, with stalwarts of the offense like Drew Brees and Marques Colston not getting any younger and new star Jimmy Graham on a one-year deal, and they could make a big move to trade up in the draft, writes Mike Triplett of ESPN.com. It is not a certainty, and he believes the Saints would not move up for a specific position, but if one prospect catches their eye and the value is right, the team would definitely consider making a move.
Here are some more notes from around the NFC:
- The Saints have seen receivers leave the team for years, this offseason has been particularly rough. Lance Moore left to sign the Steelers, Devery Henderson is a free agent, and Darren Sproles was traded to the Eagles. They will look to add a pass catcher in the draft, but could look for either a bigger receiver or a smaller, quicker slot type player, writes Triplett. While replacing Sproles with a smaller, faster player is an immediate need, finding a bigger more physical player is important as well as an eventual replacement for Colston. The team can select whichever type of receiver presents itself during the draft.
- While on the subject of big, physical receivers, Florida State wideout Kelvin Benjamin took a visit to the 49ers, writes Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com. The 49ers have been rumored to be considering trading up for Texas A&M’s Mike Evans, who is also a large and explosive receiver who could handle the taller cornerbacks of teams like the Seahawks. Benjamin could be a possible back up plan if they are not able to find a trade partner that would allow them a shot at Evans.
- The Packers have tremendous needs at safety and tight end, but Tim Silverstein of the Milwaukee-Wisconsin Journal-Sentinel does not expect the team to target those positions in round one of the upcoming draft. He notes that in Ted Thompson’s years as general manager, he has never taken either a safety or a tight end in the first round. Also, if the history of Thompson is expanded to include his mentor Ron Wolf, that is almost 20 years without ever drafting a first-round safety, and only one tight end. That one exception was Bubba Franks in 2000, who did not justify the pick.