- CBSSports.com

My first mock draft for the year, I tried to keep it as realistic as possible. Here we go:

ROUND 1

Saints trade1st (#10) and 3rd (#79) for Ravens 1st (#8) and S Gerome Sapp.

With the 8th pick in the NFL draft, the New Orleans Saints select DT Sedrick Ellis, USC.

This trade is a win-win. The Saints move in front of the Bengals to get an immediate impact player, and also get a safety in Gerome Sapp that can play either position. The Ravens pick up another third round pick and also get to screw the division rival Bengals out of Sedrick Ellis.

ROUND 2

With the 42nd pick in the NFL draft, the New Orleans Saints select CB Dominique Rogers-Cromartie, Tennessee State.

With Mike Jenkins, Aqib Talib, Antoine Cason, and Leodis McKelvin off the board, the Saints go with a CB with tremendous upside to help shore up the secondary. Rogers-Cromartie is similar to his brother; tall, athletic, and has nice hands for a corner.

ROUND 3

Saints trade Josh Bullocks and 6th (#172) for Broncos 3rd (#74)

With the 74th pick in the NFL draft, the New Orleans Saints select LB Phillip Wheeler, Georgia Tech.

With Gerome Sapp, the Saints can afford to give up JB to the Broncos who pass over Kenny Phillips in the first round. Phillip Wheeler is the best MLB left on the board and the Saints take him without hesitation here.

ROUND 4

With the 110th pick in the 2008 NFL draft, the New Orleans Saints select CB Terrence Wheatley, Colorado.

The Saints select another CB to help the struggling secondary. Wheatley isn't the tallest, fastest, or most athletic CB in the draft, but you can't measure intangibles. Wheatley has fluid hips and a nice backpedal. Wheatley played the most snaps from scrimmage on the entire Colorado team, and also led the Buffaloes in INTs, passes defensed, and touchdowns saved.

ROUND 5

With the 141st pick in the 2008 NFL draft, the New Orleans Saints select RB Tim Hightower, Richmond.

The Saints select another RB as insurance to Deuce not being able to come back and if Stecker doesn't re-sign, and continue the trend of picking from small schools. Hightower was a second team All-American in the FCS division. His stats for last year were 1,924 yds. rushing (2,152 total yds.) and 20 TDs (23 total). He also had two games with 295 and 241 yds., the first and fourth most in Richmond history.

ROUND 6

No selections in this round.

ROUND 7

With the 203rd pick in the 2008 NFL draft, the New Orleans Saint select TE Mike Peterson, Northwest Missouri State.

Another small school prospect. Peterson is a converted FB with nice hands and decent speed. He looks to be in the mold of a raw Chris Cooley.

SaintsTroll Reputation: 96 Level: Superstar Since: Jan 7, 2008	Posted on: January 27, 2008 7:15 am Score: 33 Saints Mock Draft, Version 1.0 Looks good Nola. [ Reply to Comment ]
Rani13 Reputation: 98 Level: Superstar Since: Dec 26, 2006	Posted on: January 28, 2008 3:42 am Score: 91 Saints Mock Draft, Version 1.0 Nice mock. I REALLY like the Sedrick Ellis pick, Unless some bit of 2006 magic causes Dorsey to fall to 8.....lol. [ Reply to Comment ]
BrownBag Reputation: 95 Level: Superstar Since: Jan 17, 2008	Posted on: January 28, 2008 12:22 pm Score: 27 Saints Mock Draft, Version 1.0 I like the creativity nolastyle. I also like how you kept things realistic. I would like to see us drafting some different players in the draft, but you put together a nice mock that gives room to avoid disappointment. [ Reply to Comment ]
BLESS U BOYS Reputation: 99 Level: Superstar Since: Dec 7, 2006	Posted on: January 28, 2008 4:19 pm Score: 92 Saints Mock Draft, Version 1.0 Nice job Nola, you put alot of work into this. I wish we could get Ellis & DRC, talk about instant impact. So in this situation would KK or Sapp start? And do you think Bullocks holds this much value in a trade? [ Reply to Comment ]
nolastyle Reputation: 99 Level: Superstar Since: Dec 15, 2006	Posted on: January 28, 2008 8:51 pm Score: 94 Saints Mock Draft, Version 1.0 Thanks BrownBag, I tried to keep it realistic, and not just pick 7 LSU/SEC players. Nice job Nola, you put alot of work into this. I wish we could get Ellis & DRC, talk about instant impact. So in this situation would KK or Sapp start? Not sure, I like Gerome Sapp, but KK would know the system already and might get the nod. It depends on how well Sapp comes in and performs in training camp. Most likely KK for a year and then Sapp would take over. And do you think Bullocks holds this much value in a trade? Well, Josh Bullocks is still a young safety with good measurables, and it doesn't hurt that the Broncos are pretty desperate at safety. I think JB is worth a late 3rd, early 4th round pick to them. Throw the sixth round pick in and I think we could swing it. [ Reply to Comment ]
gasspasser Reputation: 98 Level: Superstar Since: Aug 28, 2006	Posted on: February 7, 2008 10:21 pm Score: 92 Saints Mock Draft, Version 1.0 Hello Nollastyle. I enjoyed your post, but found several problems with it. You have the Saints trading picks #10, and 79 for #8 and G. Sapp, why would anyone want Sapp? Except maybe the Saints. Besides, the draft value chart would show the Saints giving up, not gaining a fringe player in this scenario. You then show the Saints getting Ellis with that #8 pick, when he is projected to go anywhere from 1st overall to 6th overall. He won't be there at #8. Rogers Cromartie is projected to go in the #22- #30 range, you have the Saints getting him at # 42 ? Not likely. Then you have J. Bullocks and #172 going to the Broncos for #74? What would the Broncos do with Bullocks? Here is a guy who is worth, at most, a 6th round choice. Not even as accomplished as Mike Green, who the Bears sent to Seattle last year for a 5th or 6th round pick. And you expect the Broncos to give you the 74th player for him and the 172nd player in the draft? The draft value position difference alone is 196.4 points, and a 6th round pick is worth around 18 points. Wow! Then you have the Saints taking P. Whealer at the #74 pick, problem is he is projected as a #65-70 pick. Once again not likely. Terrence Wheatly is rated around #111 or so, so that is a strong possibility, picking at #110. Strong work there. Hightower and Peterson probably could not make the opening day roster. [ Reply to Comment ]
nolastyle Reputation: 99 Level: Superstar Since: Dec 15, 2006	Posted on: February 8, 2008 12:18 am Score: 94 Saints Mock Draft, Version 1.0 Thanks. Good points, good points. I like Gerome Sapp. He has the athletic ability to be a solid safety at either SS or FS, but he plays behind two pretty good ones in Baltimore. IMO both DTs are moving down a slight bit as DT isn't really a crucial position. I could see Dorsey or Ellis falling a bit. Rogers-Cromartie had a great senior bowl week, so you're probably right about him. He's moved up a lot in a short time, but there will still be questions about his level of competition with him coming out of Tennessee State. Probably not likely now though. The Broncos are desperate for a safety. Bullocks has been a starter for the past two seasons, so I could see Denver looking for someone with experience to help out John Lynch during the season. Bullocks has underperformed, but like I said he is young with good measurables. Maybe a little far-fetched, but not as much as you may think. Hightower and Peterson might not, but I was looking to bring up some names that haven't been mentioned yet instead of going after the same players from big name schools. Hey, nobody expected Pierre Thomas to make the roster last year either, and he was a steal as a UDFA. [ Reply to Comment ]
nolastyle Reputation: 99 Level: Superstar Since: Dec 15, 2006	Posted on: February 8, 2008 12:23 am Score: 95 Saints Mock Draft, Version 1.0 Oh, and as for Phillip Wheeler, four or five slots isn't much. This LB class is DEEP, so a few good ones will slide on draft day, whether it be Wheeler, J Leman, Jonathan Goff, or Vince Hall. Personally, I'd take any of them if they were available. [ Reply to Comment ]
gasspasser Reputation: 98 Level: Superstar Since: Aug 28, 2006	Posted on: February 9, 2008 7:18 pm Score: 96 Saints Mock Draft, Version 1.0 Good point, slipping 5-10 spots in the middle rounds is a good possibility. [ Reply to Comment ]
gasspasser Reputation: 98 Level: Superstar Since: Aug 28, 2006	Posted on: February 9, 2008 10:41 pm Score: 95 Saints Mock Draft, Version 1.0 Good point, slipping 5 spots in the middle rounds is fairly common. It could happen, not a big surprise if it does, when you look at it that way. A bad 40 time, a failed drug test, a late night incident at a night club is all it takes to drop a few rounds. [ Reply to Comment ]

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Nolastyle's Saints Blog.

Saints Mock Draft, Version 1.0

Saints Mock Draft, Version 1.0

Saints Mock Draft, Version 1.0

Saints Mock Draft, Version 1.0

Saints Mock Draft, Version 1.0

Saints Mock Draft, Version 1.0

Saints Mock Draft, Version 1.0

Saints Mock Draft, Version 1.0

Saints Mock Draft, Version 1.0

Saints Mock Draft, Version 1.0

Saints Mock Draft, Version 1.0