Pro Football Draft Network | 2012 Pro Football Draft Analysis

1st Round (#24) DE Cameron Jordan, Cal

1st Round (#28) RB Mark Ingram, Alabama

3rd Round (#72) OLB Martez Wilson, Illinois

3rd Round (#88) CB Johnny Patrick, Louisville

7th Round (#226) DE Greg Romeus, Pittsburgh

7th Round (#243) OLB Nate Bussey, Illinois

Analysis of Notable Selections:

Cameron Jordan: New Orleans adds a very talented and versatile defensive lineman.  Jordan can play defensive end and also tackle.  He looked terrific rushing the quarterback from the defensive tackle position at the Senior Bowl.  He is an intelligent and self-motivated player.  Jordan likely will play more downs at defensive end.  He is solid versus the run and can mount a decent pass rush.  In addition, Jordan can be put at defensive tackle on 3^rd down passing situations.  He and Sedrick Ellis could prove to be a formidable inside pass rushing combination.  Cameron Jordan was a terrific value selection with the 24^th pick overall.

Mark Ingram: The Saints had a very productive ground game when they won the Super Bowl two years ago.  The result was a balanced and prolific offense that scored 21 touchdowns on the ground and 510 points.  The team’s ground game was derailed by injuries last year.  As a result, the Saints scored only 9 touchdowns on the ground and 384 points.  Drew Brees threw twice as many interceptions last season compared to 2009.  This was largely due to the inability of the rushing attack to back defenses off.  Brees shouldered too much of the offensive load in 2010. 

The Saints recognized that they had to get back to running the football in 2011.  Their solution was to make a trade with New England to get back into the 1^st round and draft Mark Ingram.  The Saints gave New England their 2^nd round pick and a 1^st round choice in the 2012 NFL Draft for Ingram.  Pierre Thomas and Chris Ivory could not stay healthy last season.  Reggie Bush is just a role player who cannot handle many carries.  Bush has had his share of injuries, as well.  Mark Ingram is a terrific running back with a serious nose for the end zone.  The 2009 Heisman Trophy winner scored 42 rushing touchdowns against SEC competition at Alabama.  He is built to be a workhorse and Ingram should revive the Saints’ rushing game (especially, in the red zone).  The team now has tremendous depth and competition in the backfield.  We think Ingram was a steal with the 28^th overall pick in the 2011 NFL Draft.

Martez Wilson: The former Illinois linebacker had a productive senior season.  Wilson was a very intriguing selection by the Saints.  He is a fantastic athlete with pass rushing skills.  He is not an exceptionally instinctive player, but his physical tools are undeniable.  Wilson could be productive if the Saints can keep his role fairly simple.  He provides the Saints with a big and fast outside linebacker with starting potential.  Wilson made a lot of sense in the 3^rd round.

Johnny Patrick: Sean Payton knows that the Packers are not going anywhere.  A defense must have 4 or 5 decent cornerbacks to match-up against Green Bay’s receivers.  Patrick is a solid zone corner who had a fine senior season (49 tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss, 12 passes broken up and 5 picks).  Patrick adds depth to the Saints’ secondary and can contribute on special teams.

Greg Romeus: The former Pitt defensive end had an injury-plagued senior season.  Romeus had barely returned from back surgery when late in the season he tore his ACL.  He may be essentially redshirted by the Saints to recover 100% from his injuries.  Romeus was productive in college and was a fine 7^th round gamble that he can regain his health.  Romeus could develop into a quality backup if his injuries are in the past.

2011 NFL Draft Grade: A

Bottom Line: The Saints do not have a 1^st round pick next year, but that should be a late-round selection.  The 2011 NFL Draft could vault the Saints back to the Super Bowl.  New Orleans had specific weaknesses and found potential impact players to solve them.  The NFL is a passing league, but the Saints showed last season that a running game could be the difference between a title and an early exit in the playoffs.  PFDN liked Mark Ingram much more than the typical evaluation of his game.  Drew Brees is going to love to have #22 in the backfield with him.  The return of the running game should make the Saints’ offense closer to the 2009 version.  The defensive line was bolstered with the addition of Cameron Jordan.  The Saints only had 6 draft choices, but they really made them count.