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          NFL Nation

          Saints mailbag, Part 2: The linebacker edition

          Thanks for submitting your New Orleans Saints questions to me on Twitter. Send them anytime @MikeTriplett. And make sure to check out Part 1 of this week's mailbag -- the draft 'what if' edition.

          @MikeTriplett: It's not necessarily accurate to say Sean Payton and the Saints have "devalued" the linebacker position. Yes, they've ignored it in the draft. But they've invested heavily in the position via trades and free agency (Jonathan Vilma, Curtis Lofton, David Hawthorne, Scott Fujita, Scott Shanle, Mark Simoneau, Parys Haralson ... even the ill-fated Brian Simmons signing).

          I'm guessing this question is more about the draft, though, and it is true that the team has shied away from drafting more dynamic, athletic playmakers at the position. The Saints have never drafted a linebacker in the first two rounds in the Payton era.

          I've heard of some cases in the past where coaches weren't sold on specific draft prospects. And for years, the Saints avoided the 'tweener type of pass-rushing outside linebackers when they used to run a 4-3 base defense. They didn't see a fit for the 235-pound edge rushers who couldn't hold up against the run or drop back in coverage. Those guys typically have a "boom-or-bust" quality about them, and New Orleans has aimed to hit more "doubles" in the first round over the years.

          But I don't believe the Saints have a rigid philosophy against drafting linebackers early. I know Brian Cushing was next on their list the year they drafted Malcolm Jenkins in 2009, and they were considering A.J. Hawk before Reggie Bush fell in their laps in 2006.

          I expect the trend to change this year. I bet at least one of New Orleans' three picks in the top 44 is a linebacker - if not two.



          @MikeTriplett: I agree. I'm in the middle of my series ranking the Saints' draft needs by position, and inside linebacker will definitely be in the top three (if not No. 1 overall). I've been saying for three straight years now that the Saints could really use a younger, more dynamic linebacker who can chase down speed backs around the corner and drop back in coverage against tight ends. Maybe newly-signed veteran Dannell Ellerbe has some of that ability, but he's a big question mark after two years plagued by injury and inconsistency in Miami.

          Meanwhile, linebackers David Hawthorne and Parys Haralson are solid but unspectacular - and they'll both be over 30 by the start of the season. And the Saints' best linebacker over the past three years, Curtis Lofton, is now in Oakland. The Saints really need to upgrade for the present and the future there.

          I don't expect them to draft a pure linebacker with the 13th pick (maybe a pass-rushing outside linebacker). But I see a lot of intriguing options they might consider with picks 31 and 44, including Washington's Shaq Thompson, UCLA's Eric Kendricks, TCU's Paul Dawson, Clemson's Stephone Anthony, Mississippi State's Benardrick McKinney and Miami's Denzel Perryman.



          @MikeTriplett: That's the plan for now, according to Payton, and I see no reason why it will change. I also expect Hawthorne to replace Lofton as the signal-caller because he's an experienced veteran heading into his third season in Rob Ryan's system. Even if the Saints draft Hawthorne's eventual replacement, it would be hard for a rookie to step in right away and unseat him in that role of "QB of the defense" - though it is possible.

          I think Hawthorne is a slight downgrade in that spot from Lofton, but not a huge one. Hawthorne played middle linebacker before he came to New Orleans, and he might be an even better fit there than he's been at the weak inside linebacker position in New Orleans' 3-4 base defense. He's been better as an interior run defender than he has been chasing down runners around the edges.



          @MikeTriplett: I wrote about that subject this week after ESPN's Mel Kiper Jr. paired the Saints with Nebraska outside linebacker Randy Gregory in his latest mock draft. I don't think the Saints will automatically eliminate every prospect with off-the-field issues from their draft board, but I would be surprised to see New Orleans emerge as the one team willing to roll the dice if other teams pass on guys like Gregory, Oklahoma receiver Dorial Green-Beckham or Washington cornerback Marcus Peters.

          The Saints have repeatedly stressed the importance of character, maturity and professionalism, which makes you think they'd have to knock each of those guys down at least one peg. However, what's most important to teams like the Saints is the attitude and approach they expect from prospects going forward. You hear Payton commending guys all the time by saying "it's important" to them.

          The Saints will do extensive research on each player and talk with them about their mindset and maturity, etc. If they're convinced the players have been properly humbled and motivated by past mistakes, then you never know. It's not like the Saints have cut every player on their team who has ever had an off-the-field issue.