Why I should be drafting for the Saints

by Eric Berger

My picks are not second guessing, but are made on draft day. Thus I know no more than the Saints know when picking.

1998

Saints: 1) Kyle Turley 2) Cameron Cleeland 4a) Fred Weary 4b) Julian Pittman 5) Wilmont Perry 6) Chris Bordano 7a) Andy McCullough 7b) Ron Warner

Me: 1) Randy Moss 2) Leonard Little 4a) Lorenzo Bromell 4b) Toby Myles **4c) Roosevelt Blackmon 5) Benji Olson 6) Andy McCullough 7a) Anthony Bookman 7b) Ron Warner

I have the extra 4th b/c I decided I would have taken a trade offer the Saints reportedly had on the table. Jacksonville had offered the ninth pick in the first and a 4th rounder for the Saints' pick in the 1st. I would have taken that trade without thinking twice because the players I was looking at (Moss & Turley) were sure to still be there two picks later (at least one of them). Go here for the rest of my analysis of this year's draft.

In comparison, Turley was good, but Randy Moss was just amazing. He wouldn't have been as good for the Saints, but would still have easily been our best offensive player. Huge edge to me. (plus I also got Roosevelt Blackmon with pick 4c for trading down two spots)

Cleeland started all year; Leonard Little played in a few games & had little impact. Big edge to the Saints.

With pick 4a, Weary played nickel back, had a few INTs, scored a TD or 2 & had a good rookie year. Bromell played in 15 games, though starting none. He had a handful of tackles and eight sacks. Close, but a slight edge to me.

With 4b, neither played, so it's a draw.

With 5, Perry & Olson both played a little & neither had much impact, so probably a draw.

With 6, Bordano started a few games & has a future with the team. McCulloch, actually drafted by the Saints, but a round later, didn't make the team. Edge Saints

7 is a draw.

 

1997

Saints: 1)Chris Naeole 2a) Rob Kelly 2b) Jared Tomich 3) Troy Davis 4a) Danny Wuerffel 4b) Keith Poole 6) Nicky Savoie

Me: 1)Yatil Green 2a) Corey Dillon 2b) Mike Logan 3) Dan Neil 4a) Tremain Mack 4b) Jermaine Smith 6) Pat Fitzgerld

None of the Saints' picks contributed anything significant, but I had Corey Dillon who had 1200 yds rushing & was among leaders for offensive rookie of the year. However, the Saints draft may be good in the long run. All their picks made the roster & played at least a little. I'm not sure about all of my guys.

Both firstrounders were a wash this year, Green missing the entire year & Naeole missing almost all of it. Draw.

I got a future pro-bowler in the second (mind you he was KiJana Carter's backup for the first few games and still had all those yards.) Rob Kelly looked lost most of the year & played little, but did start 2 games at the end of the year & had a few picks. Should start next year. Big edge to me.

Jared Tomich played some here & there on & special teams. He was in the regular D-line rotation & showed some promise. Mike Logan was returning kicks for Jacksonville; he played in 11 games this season (injuries kept him out of the rest), but had no INTs. Marginal edge to the Saints

Troy Davis had every opportunity to produce handed to him but still did very little. Not so sure yet that he can be an NFL back -- his lack of size really shows. I took Dan Neil, a backup with Denver; he played in 3 games this year, but, hey, that's a toughline to crack. He is being groomed to replace Brian Habib or Mark Schlereth if either leaves this off-season. So far, edge to the Saints.

Danny Wuerffel was a questionable pick when it was made. He showed surprising poise, but does not have an NFL arm & also has very little mobility (we're talking Bernie Kosar here). Tremain Mack has injuries and alcohol problems & right now looks like a bust.

Keith Poole & Nicky Savoie were on the roster but inactive most of the season. Savoie started to get some playing time before getting injured. Poole didnt play until the 15th game, but had a 50 yd catch in that game and had 2 TDs in the finale. A good way to end the season, but kinda reminds me of Torrance Small in that respect. My second fourth rounder Jermaine Smith played in nine games for the Packers and has one sack. I don't know what happened to Pat Fitzgerald.

After 2 years, it's a little closer, but still in my favor. Naeole has emerged as a starter but not a very good one. Rob Kelly still didn't do much. He'll be a starter next year, but by default only. Tomich, however has developed into a solid starter. Keith Poole started a few games, but couldn't hold onto the job.

In addition to Corey Dillon, I also now have Dan Neil as a quality starter. Logan & Mack don't start for their teams, but might have been able to for the Saints.

1996

Saints: 1) Alex Molden 2) J'erod Cherry 3) Brady Smith 4) Ricky Whittle 5a) Mercury Hayes 5b) Tom Ackerman 5c) Terry Guess 6a) Keno Hills 6b) Toderick Malone 7) Henry Lusk

Me: 1) Duane Clemons 2) J'erod Cherry 3) Karim Abdul Jabbar 4) Norberto Garrido 5a) Christian Peter 5b) Jimmy Herndon 5c) Terry Guess 6a) Ricky Bell 6b) Gregory Spann 7) Henry Lusk

I had a real good draft here if I do say so myself. Three picks are current NFL starters.

I always liked Alex Molden, but I thought the 14th pick was too early to take him. Moreover, the Saints had just signed Mark McMillan toa big free agent contract, so I didnt see DB as a first round need. But Molden has turned out to be a great pick. He should be a mainstay of the Saints defense for a long time. But similar things could be said about my pick, Duane Clemons. He starts at DE for Minnesota and was second on the team in sacks in 1997. Close, but a slight edge to the Saints.

In the 2nd, I also picked Jerod Cherry. A draw.

In the third, the Saints took DE Brady Smith. He was a good pick. I might have taken him if I hadn't already taken a DE in the 1st. He's not a starter, but will be soon, especially if Joe Johnson leaves via free agency this offseason. I took Karim Abdul Jabbar, who was a starter right away for Miami. He had over a thousand yards last year and about 900 this year plus 15 touchdowns. He was a steal for the Dolphins to get such a good player this low, and if the Saints had taken him they might have had a winning record this year. Edge: me.

In the fourth, the Saints picked Ricky Whittle. He was the backup third down back last year, with about 30 catches, but failed to make the team this year. Last year the Saints didn't know what they wanted to do about running back last year. They seemd to be behind Mario Bates, but later said they didn't want him as a starter and considered RB their top need. So they unsucessfully tried to trade up to get Tim Biakabatuka, but didn't take Eddie George with their own pick, and failed to get a RB before the 4th with Whittle, passing up Abdul-Jabbar among others to take a risk on Whittle. A typical Saints screwup. I took Norberto Garrido, who was starting on the OL for Carolina by the end of his rookie year and was starting RT this year. Taking him would have really alleviated the Saints OL woes of the last 2 years. Big edge: me.

With the first pick in the 5th, the Saints took Mercury Hayes. He played little in 2 years, was cut in the middle of the season & is probably a goner. I took Christian Peter, also unaware of all of his off-the-field troubles. He did play in seven games for the Giants this year, but didn't play withthe team that drafted him. Slight edge to the Saints, but no long term help from either pick.

With pick 5b, the Saints took Tom Ackerman. He plays on special teams, but isn't considered likely to break the starting lineup next year. I took Jimmy Herndon, also an offensive lineman. I'm not sure what he's done.

With pick 5c, I made the same pick as the Saints: WR Terry Guess. He didnt make the team, but I dont think he was given enough opportunity to play. He got in Mike Ditka's doghouse this pre-season by coming back slowly from injury. At the time, I thought it was a good pick.

With the first pick of the sixth, the Saints took Keno Hills. He was a pretty good pick. He started a few games this year in Chris Naeole's absence at RG & struggled at times, but still showed some promise. I didn't take him because I had already taken two offensive lineman; I selected Ricky Bell, a corner. He went undrafted, but ended up with the Bears returning kicks & playing in the dime package. Draw

With ther second pick of the 6th round, the Saints took WR Toderick Malone. He never made the team (I did see him playing in the WLAF last season). I took Gregory Spann, also a WR. I don't think he made a team either. Draw.

In the seventh, we both took TE Henry Lusk. He palyed a lot his rookie year and seemed to have a lot of promise, but his production tailed off toward the end of that 1996 season and he failed to make the team in '97.

1995

Saints: 1) Mark Fields 2) Ray Zellars 3) Mike Verstegen 4) William Strong 5) Dameian Jefferies 6) Lee DeRamus 7) Travis Davis

Me: 1) Ellis Johnson 2) Bobby Taylor 3) Lorenzo Styles 4) Dameian Jefferies 5)Andrew Peterson 6) Lee DeRamus or Tony Berti (I cant remember who I would have taken) 7) Darrick Holmes

In the first, the Saints took LB Mark Fields, who had a tough rookie season, but now is a starter and a future star. I went with the most obvious need and took Dt Ellis Johnson. Both were good picks. Though he doesn't have Fields' star potential, Johnson has been a 3 year starter and so far has made more of a contribution in the NFL than Fields; nevertheless the Saints actually had a real find in Fields. Slight edge to the Saints.

In the second, the Saints ignored a glaring needs at corner and defensive end & took FB Ray Zellars. Zellars is a starter, sometimes at FB, sometimes at HB, but it was still a stupid pick. He probably could have been gotten later. I took Bobby Taylor, who started right away for Philly, as he would have for the Saints, and is one of the better young corners in the league. The Saints were looking at Taylor in the 1st, didn't take him, then also passed on him again in the second. I win this one, hands down.

In the 3rd, the Saints took OT Mike Verstegen; although maybe a little early to take him, at the time, not a bad pick. However, he had made little of several opportunities & has so far been a bust. I took LB Lorenzo Styles. I know he's a Ram & has played in a few games the last 2 years.

Of the Saints' remaining picks, Dameian Jeffries was a bust, William Strong retired w/o making any imapact, Lee DeRamus showed a little promise but didn't make the team this year. The Saints' last pick, Travis Davis, never made the team & was cut. He was starting for Jacksonville by the end of his rookie year & still was, this year, in the playoffs. He was one of the few immediate impact players we have drafted in the last few years, but the impact was with another team, so no points for the Saints.

I took Dameian Jefferies too - bust, except I took him a round sooner. I think Andrew Petersen went somewhere & started, but I didn't hear of him this year. I may have also taken Lee DeRamus, or I may have taken Tony Berti. I'm honestly not sure who it was. I think Berti starts for San Diego. Darick Holmes is Buffalo's fullback & was 3rd on the team in rushing this year. Edge for these picks - me.

 

 

last updated 3/12/99

The Mock Draft Page

Saints roster & what needs to be done to it this offseason.

 

Back to Eric's Saints Page .

 

Back to Eric's main page.


return to BERGER TIME HOME PAGE

MoviesMusicGripeHalloweenChristmasNew Orleans
MARDI GRASStupid AdsAdviceQuiltsTriviaWinnersWhere Y'At?
SeinfeldHistoryBuffalo day

 

 

 

Sign My Guestbook View My Guestbook