The 2009 NFL Draft has come and gone, and now we can see what teams have a legitimate shot at the Super Bowl this year, and what teams should start looking forward to next year's draft a little bit early.
We can all start hearing those "this is our year" rants from the die hard Saints fans who are ecstatic about the Saint's drafting All-American cornerback Malcolm Jenkins and those "we'll see" responses from those of us who have been hearing those types of speeches for our entire lives.
While it's hard to make a drastic change to a team with only four draft picks, I'll break down each of the Saints picks from this year's draft and say what kind of impact they will make on this year's team, if any.
First Round, No. 14 overall CB Malcolm Jenkins/Ohio St.:
Jenkins is, without question, the one guy the majority of Saints fans wanted to nab with the 14th pick and that's just who they got. The 6 foot, 205 pound cornerback was--at one time--looked at as a top-10 pick, but after a sub-par 40-time at the NFL Scouting Combine his stock dropped a little bit being labeled by many GMs as, "the next coming of Charles Woodson". While it's debatable whether or not that is a good thing, it is without question that his addition will make an immediate impact on the depth of the Saints' one-time dreadful secondary.
After adding free agents Darren Sharper and Jabari Greer this offseason, it will not be that big of a surprise to see three new starters in the four secondary spots come next season for a Saints pass defense that ranked 23rd in the league last season. Jenkins also gives new defensive coordinator multiple options with the rookie's ability to play either corner or safety. I'm thinking Jenkins will probably start out at cornerback and if Sharper's production begins to fall, they'll move Jenkins into the free safety spot.
Fourth Round, No. 116 overall SS Chip Vaughn/Wake Forest:
At 6-foot-1, 220 pounds, Vaughn was an enforcer and run stopper at the safety position while at Wake Forest. He will probably be used as a special teams contributor at first, but don't be surprised if he pushes Roman Harper for the starting strong safety spot. He was known for his big-play abilities while in college and didn't get as much publicity due to his fellow draftees who played at Wake Forest-- cornerback Alphonso Smith and linebacker Aaron Curry.
He is a great athlete, but will be more of a developmental player than an immediate contributor to the Saints' defense.
Fourth Round, No. 118 overall MLB Stanley Arnoux/Wake Forest:
Arnoux, a 6-foot, 232 pound linebacker who was a somewhat of an unknown due to playing alongside Curry, will add depth to a Saints linebacking group that played the same three guys--Jonathan Vilma, Scott Fujita, and Scott Shanle--nearly every play of all 16 games last season. He also ran a 4.56 in the 40-yard dash at the the Combine which ranked second among middle linebackers, bringing some speed to a group that lacked that type of explosiveness last season, to say the least.
He, like his college teammate Vaughn, will probably be asked to contribute more on special teams than on defense. According to the Times-Picayune, Saints Coach Sean Payton said they will try to move Arnoux to weakside linebacker so don't be surprised if he challenges Shanle--the current starter--come time for training camp.
Fifth Round, No. 164 overall P Thomas Morstead
I know what you all are thinking. "PUNTER? Who drafts punters?" While I do agree punters--unless your name is Ray Guy--should never be picked in the draft unless it's in the seventh round. But don't look at this as one of those "dumb Saints decisions that seem to happen every year" draft picks.
There is a method to Payton's madness.
If you haven't forgotten already, the Saints seemed to have a different punter and kicker in every game at the end of last season. While they seemed to find the permanent starter at kicker in Garrett Hartley, they are still looking to find a punter they feel comfortable with. Hopefully, Morstead will be that guy, but the Saints did draft kicker Taylor Mehlhaff in the sixth round of last year's draft and he was cut after starting three games. So, don't be surprised to see Morstead leave just as fast as he came to the Saints.
To conclude, I don't think the Saints had a particularly bad draft weekend, but I don't think they did much to improve a team that underachieved their way to an 8-8 record last season. I like the Jenkins pick, but after that it seemed like we picked a couple of guys who will be wearing different uniforms--if any--after two years.
But like a wise man once told me, "we'll see".
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