2011 NFL Draft: 1st Round Likely New Orleans Saints Best Ever

by Draft

Mark Ingram and Roger Goodell (Source: blogs.nfl.com)

The 1st round of the 2011 NFL Draft for the New Orleans Saints has all the possibilities of being one of the most productive in Saints history.

When it was time for the Saints to pick at number 24, they were faced with picking a defensive end that was a definite need, or the best available player at a position that they appear to have depth.

I was happy to see the Saints pick DE Cameron Jordan from Cal with the 24th pick in the first round.

Jordan is 6-4, 290 pounds, and ran a 4.7 second 40-yard dash at the NFL Scouting Combine.

Jordan was picked by some as being the number 6 prospect in the 2011 NFL draft. He will be an excellent pash rusher on the opposite end of the defensive line from Will Smith.

Offensive coordinators will have a terrible time deciding which of these two monsters they need to double team.

I had just started to relax knowing the Saints had filled a big need on their defense. However, in the back of my mind I was thinking, “What if they would have taken the best available player instead?”

Right about that time I heard the announcement come over the television. The Saints had just traded their 2012 first round pick, and their second round pick this year (56), to the New England Patriots for their 28th pick.

WHAT? Is it possible? That’s when I knew, Mark Ingram was going to be the New Orleans Saints newest addition to our amazing running back group.

Running Back Mark Ingram from Alabama was picked at number 28. The 2009 Heisman Trophy winner will be wearing black and gold.

Ingram possesses a rare combination of power and quickness. He finished his career with 3,261 yards on 572 carries (5.7 yards per carry) and 42 touchdowns.

I believe Ingram has the ability to become one of the best running backs in the NFL.

The 2011 NFL Draft is already a success in my eyes for the New Orleans Saints. I believe Jordan and Ingram will both be significant contributors to the Saints in 2011 on our way to winning our second Superbowl.

I just want to tell the New Orleans Saints organization that I give them an A+ for their efforts on the first day of the 2011 NFL Draft.

I did hear some grumblings about Ingram and his recovery from his knee injury. My response to that is simple.

A few short years ago there was a quarterback that was released from his team due to questions about his recovery from a shoulder injury.

Hmmm? Countless records broke, Superbowl Champion, and Superbowl MVP…I would say that Quarterback recovered just fine from his injury.

The Saints believed in Drew Brees at a time when others wouldn’t. Brees came back stronger than ever and proved to everyone how wrong they were for doubting him.

I have a feeling Ingram will want to prove to everybody, that he is the best running back in the NFL.

The road to Indianapolis has begun…WHO DAT!!! GEAUX SAINTS!!!

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Well... its been over a week & I'm still waiting to hear just what content in my original comments is not factually correct. So far, all I've heard is personal attacks in regards to how I choose to exercise my sports loyalties. Hopefully someone will come up with a fact-based argument against my observations in the next few days - I don't plan to read the blog of a middling team/organization for much longer. A much wiser use of time would be reading/commenting on a Falcons or Packers blog.

To Worm: You are right on about NJ Saintsman! I was shocked about that comment too. NJ is definitely not a true Saints fan. Not to mention the five year run comment. A Saints fan a whole five years? Saints fans are fans for life not band wagon fans, which this person must be if they are willing to stop just being a fan.

hmm. rather than making a vague statement accusing me of knowing nothing about this team, perhaps you could expand upon what points I made that you disagree with and why. or is it just that anyone who criticizes your team must be wrong?

You are right on Bubba....two enormous picks that will immediately impact two key positions.

Sadly, it appears that April 28, 2011 will mark my final day as a Saints fan. Its been a mostly-thrilling 5-year run. Unfortunately the shrewd personnel decisions which marked the 2006-2009 seasons have been replaced with a long series of nonsensical illogical player moves which, after the 2009 season, saw the Saints do almost nothing to improve their mediocre defensive front seven. Now, in an even more-disappointing offseason, the organization has wasted $12 million to resign a mediocre, injury-prone running back (when there are several better free-agent alternatives), wasted their first round pick on a player who does not remotely fit their 4-3 defensive scheme (when there were several vastly superior pass rushers - Houston, Bowers, or even Reed, Sheard, or Wilkerson - available), and traded valuable high picks to pick up yet another running back - a position where we were overstocked already.

What the Saints are left with at this moment in time, is a team still devoid of any pass rush, and thin at linebacker and on the offensive line. It's looking more & more like 2009 was a fluke - the result of a bad pick by Brett Favre & the lack of a Super Bowl opponent capable of exploiting that weak front seven.

Wow... You know nothing about this team!

Thank you for parting ways as a fan.