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MOCK DRAFT 3.0: Who will Saints take?
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Rob Rang / Sports Xchange
Posted: 1 day ago
New Orleans threw a wrench into the top 10 when it locked up quarterback Drew Brees for the next six years. Now the Saints are sitting pretty with a host of athletes to pick from with the second overall selection, or they can sit back and field offers from teams desperate to land one of the draft's elite talents.
Virginia left tackle D'Brickashaw Ferguson stands to gain the most from this shuffle, as he now has a legitimate chance to be the second player off the board. Meanwhile, Southern California quarterback Matt Leinart suddenly looks like a good fit for Tennessee, while the Packers have to be ecstatic that N.C. State defensive end Mario Williams - the draft's top defensive player - could slide to them at No. 5.
But the player who could feel the most painful ripple effect is Texas quarterback Vince Young, who was already free-falling before another team in the top 10 solved its quarterback situation.
Previous mock drafts: 1.0 | 2.0
MOCK DRAFT: Round 1
Pick Team Player Pos. School Previous Rising/Falling High/Low
1. Texans Reggie Bush RB USC 1st SAME 1st / 1st
As the draft approaches, the only question with the top overall selection will be if the Texans keep the pick.
2. Saints D'Brickashaw Ferguson OT Virginia 4th (+2) 2nd / 6th
With Drew Brees on board, the Saints should have options with plenty of players worthy of teams attempting to trade up. Should the Saints keep the pick, Ferguson, a potential Pro Bowl left tackle, fills the biggest need.
3. Titans Matt Leinart QB USC 2nd (-1) 2nd / 3rd
The Titans might have received a pleasant gift with Brees landing in New Orleans. Suddenly Leinart, who would reunite with former Southern Cal and current Titans offensive coordinator Norm Chow, could fall into their lap.
4. Jets Jay Cutler QB Vanderbilt 4th SAME 4th / 9th
New coach Eric Mangini can put his stamp on the club immediately by selecting his own franchise quarterback as insurance against yet another Chad Pennington injury.
5. Packers Mario Williams DE N.C. State 5th SAME 5th / 5th
Williams may not make it this far, as many teams are grading him as the second-best prospect of the draft. But if the Saints keep the No. 2 pick, Williams could slide to the Packers.
6. 49ers Vernon Davis TE Maryland 10th (+4) 6th / 10th
The 49ers have to surround Alex Smith with weapons if they expect him to be successful. They replaced wide receiver Brandon Lloyd with free agent Antonio Bryant, but this offense needs a receiving threat over the middle.
7. Raiders A.J. Hawk OLB Ohio State 7th SAME 7th / 7th
For Art Shell to return to the Raiders of old, he'll need more difference-makers on defense. There isn't a defender more likely to make an immediate impact than Hawk.
8. Bills Brodrick Bunkley DT Florida State 8th SAME 8th / 10th
Bunkley fits the defensive alignment of new coordinator Perry Fewell nicely and is moving up the board after a spectacular season, Senior Bowl and Combine performance.
9. Lions Michael Huff DB Texas 9th SAME 9th / 11th
With question marks at both cornerback and safety, a versatile defender like Huff makes a great deal of sense here.
10. Cardinals Vince Young QB Texas 3rd (-7) 3rd / 10th
Kurt Warner provided Eli Manning with a solid mentor his first season. He could provide Vince Young with a similar calming influence. Young could silence critics with an impressive Pro Day.