Saints should keep drafting those hard-to-find ‘big boys’

The Saints’ success on those three days in April has paved the way for New Orleans to lead the NFL with 37 regular-season victories the past three seasons, including back-to-back 13-win seasons.
    

In 2019, with only five selections, the Saints still managed to find two starters, center Erik McCoy and defensive back C.J. Gardner-Johnson.
    

Two other picks, safety Saquan Hampton and linebacker Kaden Elliss, have shown flashes of potential.
    

So, what will head coach Sean Payton, general manager Mickey Loomis and director of scouting Jeff Ireland do in 2020?
    

There are several clues.
    

Since 2014, the Saints have made a habit of trading up. In deals since then, the Saints have acquired wide receiver Brandin Cooks, running back Alvin Kamara, defensive end Marcus Davenport, and McCoy.
    

Since 2016, the Saints have made 24 selections.
    

Seven have been defensive backs, five are defensive linemen and four are offensive linemen.
    

Quality linemen and defensive backs are rarely available in free agency, and if they are, the price is high. So, the Saints place extra emphasis on developing those players from within.
    

In free agency, the Saints addressed several areas of need. They retained starting guard Andrus Peat, signed free-agent wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders and brought back free agent safety Malcolm Jenkins from the Philadelphia Eagles.
    

All are moves made by a team that believes it is a Super Bowl contender.
    

So, what will the Saints do?
    

My guess is New Orleans picks a defensive player in the first round and then plucks an offensive tackle in Round 3. The 2020 draft is flush with offensive linemen, a Saints favorite.
    

And, when you look back at the January playoff loss to the Vikings, the Saints lost that game up front. Several offensive linemen were playing at far less than 100%. And, the Saints defensive line clearly missed tackle Sheldon Rankins and end Marcus Davenport. The Vikings ran the ball 40 times, including 28 carries by Dalvin Cook.
    

Those 40 runs produced only 134 yards, but they chewed up precious time and kept the Saints offense off the field. New Orleans ran only 54 plays to Minnesota’s 74.
    

Since that loss, I have heard that the Saints were simply “flat” and not ready to play. And, that too much emphasis should not be placed on one game. Maybe so. But, the Saints should stay the course and draft  their difference makers up front.
    

Ed Daniels is sports director of ABC26 WGNO. He can be reached at [email protected].