Here's a closer look at the positions the New Orleans Saints could target at the NFL combine in Indianapolis:
Positions of need: There will be plenty of quarterback intrigue surrounding the Saints this year, since Drew Brees is 38 and heading into the final year of his contract. (Imagine the possibility of replacing one superstar with another in Clemson's Deshaun Watson.) But that’s still a long shot for New Orleans, as defense remains the most pressing need.
Coach Sean Payton recently listed edge rusher and cornerback as the two "musts" for the Saints this offseason. Even if New Orleans fills those needs in free agency, it could possibly double up with the 11th pick in the draft.
The Saints' defense showed signs of improvement in Dennis Allen's first full season as coordinator in 2016, but they still ranked 27th in the NFL in yards allowed and 31st in points allowed in 2016. They could use an impact playmaker at all three levels of the defense, from edge rusher to cornerback to linebacker. The good news is that they should have some good options with that No. 11 pick.
Players the Saints could focus on at the combine:
Solomon Thomas, DE, Stanford: Thomas might price himself out of New Orleans if he lives up to expectations at the combine. The 6-foot-2, 275-pounder has great athleticism for his size, and two of five NFL executives polled by NFL.com predicted that Thomas will generate the most buzz of anyone at the combine. "He’s a freak show," one said. Many analysts already rate Thomas as a top-10 draft prospect, though he has slipped to the Saints in a few mock drafts (including the latest from ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr.
). The only drawback with Thomas in New Orleans is that he is a bigger defensive end who played on the strong side in college and could even move inside to tackle in the NFL -- much like Saints standouts Cameron Jordan and Sheldon Rankins. However, if Thomas proves to be as dynamic as touted, he could still be a great fit as the Saints' weakside end.
Taco Charlton, DE, Michigan: Charlton is another big defensive end who could earn his way into the top 11 with a strong combine performance. The 6-5½, 275-pounder is big enough to be a 4-3 end and disruptive enough to have racked up 9.5 sacks in his final 10 games at Michigan (including 2.5 vs. Ohio State). Charlton was a late bloomer who didn’t star until his senior year, though, so the workouts and team interviews will be important to him. Other pass-rushers who could prove worthy of the No. 11 pick include Tennessee's Derek Barnett and UCLA's Takkarist McKinley.
Tre'Davious White, CB, LSU: White’s draft stock is much harder to peg than the guys I mentioned above. Some mocks have him going to the Saints at No. 11, and others have him outside of the first round entirely. The combine could help narrow that down -- especially if the 5-11, 195-pounder turns in a good 40-yard dash time and looks fluid in position drills. White was a four-year starter at LSU and was considered one of the best cover cornerbacks in the country. The Saints will likely spend a lot of time with him at LSU's nearby pro day, as well. If White’s not worthy of the No. 11 pick, perhaps Washington’s Sidney Jones or Florida's Quincy Wilson or Teez Tabor will be.
Reuben Foster, LB, Alabama: Foster reportedly won’t work out at the combine after having surgery to repair a rotator cuff. Perhaps that will prove to be a blessing in disguise for the Saints if it helps the 6-0, 246-pounder fall out of the top 10. Foster is a Butkus Award winner and first-team All-American with the versatility to stuff the run, blitz and drop into coverage. ESPN draft analyst Todd McShay called him one of the better inside linebacker prospects in recent memory. The medical evaluations and team interviews will be key for him at the combine.