The Saints wanted LSU defensive tackle Glenn Dorsey in Saturday's first day of the NFL draft, but had to settle for the second best defensive tackle in the draft, USC's Sedrick Ellis.
The Saints, who were out to improve their defense even more after trades and free agency signings, offered the Kansas City Chiefs (No. 5) this year's first-round selection (No. 10), next year's first-round pick, and this year's seventh-round pick to move up to No. 5 and take Dorsey.
The Chiefs turned down the Saints offer and selected Dorsey themselves. The Saints then responded by trading from No. 10 to No. 7 with New England, and picked USC defensive tackle Sedrick Ellis for the price of swapping first-round selections and throwing the Patriots a third-rounder.
That's getting the second-best defensive tackle and a player many talent detectives feel is close to Dorsey, for a lot less of a price tag.
Dorsey had been rated as high as first and second in mock drafts. Saints general manager Mickey Loomis was asked if the price was too high to move up further to get Dorsey?
Answered Loomis: "There are some variables, and I don't want to talk about any specifics, but I mean just in trading up period, you have to value what is the size of the contract. The size of that contract is going to prevent us in doing what is going forward.
"For example, the difference between the contract that picked ten and the contract that picked second is $40 million plus over the course of the deal. There are a lot of things that we can do $40 million in terms of free agency and our own players, so that is a big variable. Also you have to consider the variable of much compensation, what picks are you giving up, what players do you have to give up, all of that becomes an issue. It is not clear cut for that type of decision. It is a lot of variables. There is no question about that."
Dorsey was asked if he was surprised he fell to the Chiefs? "I don't feel like I fell to the Chiefs," said Dorsey. Each team has had what they wanted to do and I didn't come in with any expectations.
"This is the best I've ever felt. I'm excited to have the opportunity."
Saints coach Sean Payton left his office on Friday and told Loomis that they could not be forced into paying too much for Giants tight end Jeremy Shockey, reported to be involved in trade talks with the Saints. The Saints' offer of a second-round and a six-round this year, or a second and a fifth next year just wasn't enough for the Giants, who want Saints safety Roman Harper and a second.
The Saints were on the clock with the 40th pick of the draft on Saturday and this was the pick they should be trading to the Giants for Shockey. ESPN goes to a commercial. No Shockey trade.
The Saints picked cornerback Tracey Porter, a Port Allen native, from Indiana, in the second round.
Later on Saturday, Payton answered questions from the media at the Saints training facility.
Q: Your opinion of your top draft pick?
A: Sedrick Ellis is an active player. He's probably more nose when you watch the college film, but he's a guy who can play in a three technique. He gives us flexibility in regards to the pass rush.One thing about him is that the guy plays with great intensity. We saw a lot of college film and saw him at the Senior Bowl. He was one of the guys as the draft started that we held in high regard and we were able to get up there and get in position to draft him.
Q: Do both Ellis' and Tracy Porter's ability to make plays fit needs on your defense?
A: I think you look at all those things defensively and the position. You're trying to find players that fit what you do and I think in both cases these are guys that have those qualities. That's a plus.
Q: Were you guys pretty determined to be able to draft either Ellis or Glenn Dorsey?
A: It was a priority. Mickey, Rick Mueller and I spent a lot of time discussing the scenarios. You understand that being patient, being smart and not necessarily having one specific player, but having a plan in place is the way to go. We were prepared to pick ten if needed be. Fortunately, we were able to move up and get Ellis. I think you go through some scenarios. You hear a lot and you read a lot and then when it actually starts, you really have to pay attention to what's in front and what's behind you. I think we were able to do that."
Q: Are you still pursuing Jeremy Shockey or is that dead?
A: I've read so much about that topic. No. 1, it's a player on another team that we would never be able to comment on. Obviously there's a history with myself being with the Giants organization and I was there when we selected Jeremy, but that wouldn't be something that I could comment on, just because I think it's inappropriate and there's been a lot written about it and half that stuff that was written probably was false. I don't know where it came from. Mickey and I talked about this and really in all fairness to our team and league protocol, I just don't think it is appropriate for us to even visit about it.
Q:How close did you have Dorsey and Ellis rated next to each other and where were they on your over-all board?
A: They both were on top of the board in the first six picks and both were very close to each other. I think probably universally throughout the league at that specific position there were two players that everyone felt pretty much the same about in regards to the two best defensive tackles. Depending on your scheme, your level of interest might change and might go up or down, but both the players were high up there.
Q:What separated Tracy Porter from the others guys at 40?
A: He's a guy that does fill a need. He's a returner. He has good ball skills. He was captain of his team. The staff there at Indiana, I know very well. His prior head coach, the late Terry Hoeppner, who passed away not long ago, was someone that I worked with for a number of years as well as Bill Lynch, the current head coach there right now and a number of assistants. You scout this player from when he arrived at Indiana, all the way through his senior year, he's done a lot of things that we would look for in our corners. We were excited. When you get at the end and you have two or three players in that round that you've kind of blocked off and you hope they just don't go in front of you, which can often happen, in this case, we were fortunate that it didn't.
Q: When you look at the competition at cornerback, does Tracy Porter come in with an opportunity to start?
A: We've done this each year, and you guys that cover us regularly know that we're going to play the best players. We hope that they're guys that we've identified and drafted, but we've played players that we haven't. That competition is healthy, and I think that leads to a healthy locker room. Our players, to a man, know that any position as a starter or a backup, is going to one that's earned. We keep looking at bringing in players that fit what we're about, and I think with these two players we have really solid guys and talented players that fit our scheme. We'll see; there will be a lof of competition -- not just at corner either.
Q: There were reports that had Jammal Brown on the trading block in efforts to move up. Is there any accuracy in that?
A: No. I think this year -- and every year it changes -- the draft is a popular event and I think the league does a great job of promoting it and that has gone on. There is more written leading up to the draft and I bet it's about 50 per cent accurate and 50 per cent false. When it comes to a player like Jammal, I think it's a credit to him. As teams try to look at what you might have a surplus of, or you might have depth at that position, but we're not interested in trading Jammal. But I read a little of that, but you'll go crazy trying to pay attention to all of it. There was no interest in our part in trading him. He's had a great off-season, probably one of the better offseasons of anyone on our team right now.
I think the Saints will end up thanking their stars that the Chiefs turned down their offer to move up. They still have ammo to get Shockey from the Giants.
