Draft day decision makers: New Orleans Saints
Mickey Loomis is entering his second decade as General Manger of the New Orleans Saints. He first took the job in 2002, after spending some 15 years in the Seattle Seahawks organization. Head Coach Sean Payton also has some say over personnel decisions. The Saints have sort of a unique view on draft day. They take a best player available strategy, but without a pick in the top 10 or 20 the last few years that has been a sound strategy. They firmly believe that it takes year or two to develop a prospect so they pay little attention to their short term needs.
This team tends to be very average with their higher draft picks. Their last five first round picks; Reggie Bush, Robert Meachem, Sedrick Ellis, Malcolm Jenkins, and Patrick Robinson have not yet developed into stars. That is not to say that they have not been productive. They just have done developed into big time stars. Where this team does very well is in later draft picks. In the middle rounds they have gone out and found guys like TE Jimmy Graham last year who may have been the steal of the 2010 draft. They also like to deal picks to get veteran players, most notably Jonathan Vilma.
Loomis tends to be very aggressive on draft day he will make a trade to get the player he wants, and since they are picking 24th in the first round they will have some time to work the phones.
Related Links:
- New Orleans Saints War Room
- Joshua Lobdell.com
