Ranking the New Orleans Saints’ top draft needs by position, starting with the bottom three:
No. 13: Running back
Current depth chart:
Mark Ingram, age 26
Tim Hightower, age 29
C.J. Spiller, age 28
Travaris Cadet, age 27
Marcus Murphy, age 24
Vick Ballard, age 25
Outlook: The Saints don’t have much youth at running back so they could potentially draft a developmental guy in the later rounds. But they also don’t have much room for another back. The top five guys on this list all seem likely to make the 53-man roster, and the Saints usually keep only four.
The only running back in this year's draft worthy of the Saints' No. 12 pick in Round 1 is Ohio State's Ezekiel Elliott, who could be a special player. But I think the Saints would be nuts to consider him with more pressing needs at every other position.
No. 12: Tight end/fullback
Current depth chart:
TE Coby Fleener, age 27
TE Josh Hill, age 25
TE Michael Hoomanawanui, age 27
TE RaShaun Allen, age 26
TE Chris Manhertz, age 24
TE Jack Tabb, age 23
FB Austin Johnson, age 26
FB Toben Opurum, age 25
Outlook: After a free-agent spending spree on tight ends (adding Fleener, matching an offer for Hill as a restricted free agent and re-signing Hoomanawanui), the Saints should be done investing heavily at the position. Like with RB, I could see a late-round pick if the grade is high enough -- maybe a late-round flier on someone like New Orleans native and Baylor basketball standout Rico Gathers, who is making the switch to football. But the Saints do already have some youth they like with Hill and Allen, among others.
I often lump tight ends and fullbacks together since they can be interchangeable at times in New Orleans’ offense. The Saints like Johnson, but it wouldn’t stun me if they considered an upgrade.
No. 11: Specialists
Current depth chart:
P Thomas Morstead, age 30
K Kai Forbath, age 28
K Josh Scobee, age 33
LS Justin Drescher, age 28
Outlook: Instead of ranking the specialists last, I gave them a little bump because of the kicker position. I wouldn’t be surprised to see the Saints get aggressive one of these years and draft a top kicker since they’ve had so much trouble finding stability at the position (10 different kickers in 10 years under Sean Payton). The big prize this year is Florida State’s Roberto Aguayo, but it might require a third-round pick to get him.
The Saints are set with Morstead at punter, but I wouldn’t be surprised to see them bring in an undrafted free agent to compete with Drescher.