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BBV Community Mock Draft 2011: With The 24th Pick, New Orleans Selects ...

Ryan Kerrigan, DE, Purdue.

Playing the role of New Orleans Saints general manager is Charles L. Here is his jubilant rationale for the selection of Kerrigan.

If the real draft on April 28th turns out like this, I guarantee you New Orleans Saints' GM Mickey Loomis will personally sprint up to the podium with his pick (as Bucs' GM Mark Dominik cries tears of frustration because he accidentally picked the wrong guy). Other than possibly the Dolphins' pick, this is probably the first no-brainer pick of our mock draft.

As we all know, the Saints' greatest strength is its offense. Drew Brees and Sean Payton, backed by an underrated offensive line, are one of the best in the league, and during their 2009-10 Super Bowl run, was supplemented by a mediocre defense that managed a league-leading eight touchdowns off turnovers during the regular season and nine total turnovers during the playoffs. And as us Giants' fans are well aware, turnovers start by putting pressure on the QB.

That mediocre defense reverted back to the spongy, porous sieve that has characterized the Saints' defense for as far as I can remember. With only one legit pass rusher on the team (Will Smith) the weak linebacker corps and an

aging Darren Sharper were left exposed, as best epitomized during the Wild Card game against the Seattle Seahawks.

During that game, the Seahawks' tight ends had their way with the Saints' linebackers and (admittedly depleted) safeties. Then, this debacle occurred:


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ynn7VGY2Asc


Ryan Kerrigan, as a defensive end with good athleticism and a very well-rounded game, is unquestionably the perfect pick for the Saints. He plays the most valuable defensive position, is clearly the best player available, would fill an immediate need, is a great fit in a hybrid 4-3 front, and is ready to contribute immediately for a perennial Super Bowl contender.

My take: I might disaqree that this pick is a 'no-brainer,' but I can't disagree with it being a good choice for the Saints. New Orleans could use help at a bunch of spots on defense, and right here it looks like Kerrigan is the best marriage of value and need. If I was making this pick, I would probably be flipping a coin between Kerrigan and Illinois defensive tackle Corey Liuget right here.

-- This puts 'Ejaay' on the clock with Seattle's pick at No. 25.

Round 1

Pos Team Player Pos School Drafter
1 Carolina Cam Newton
QB
Auburn
Tito
2 Denver Nick Fairley
DT
Auburn
Mike Fiammetta
3 Buffalo Patrick Peterson
CB
LSU
Bigbluethruandthru
4 Cincinnati Blaine Gabbert
QB
Missouri
BitterEli
5 Arizona Von Miller
OLB
Texas A&M
gmen2thebowl
6 Cleveland Marcell Dareus
DL
Alabama
Bobely
7 San Francisco
A.J. Green
WR
Georgia
Pat19
8 Tennessee Da'Quan Bowers DE
Clemson
RealLT
9 Dallas
Prince Amukamara
CB
Nebraska
Simms-McConkey
10 Washington Julio Jones
WR
Alabama
jcalafiore
11 Houston
Robert Quinn
DE/OLB
North Carolina
daddyzander
12 Minnesota Tyron Smith
OT
USC
RolloT
13 Detroit Anthony Castonzo
OT
Boston College
Ed Valentine
14 St. Louis
Aldon Smith
DE
Missouri
GiantNomad
15 Miami
Mark Ingram
RB
Alabama
HenneGivenSunday
16 Jacksonville Cameron Jordan
DE
California
ct17
17 New England
Mike Pouncey
OG/C
Florida
Ryan Valentine
18 San Diego
J.J. Watt
DE
Wisconsin
Anthony P
19 N.Y. Giants Akeem Ayers
OLB
UCLA
Ed Valentine
20 Tampa Bay
Jimmy Smith
CB
Tampa Bay
willgfass
21 Kansas City
Phil Taylor
DT
Baylor
The Blood Of Eli
22 Indianapolis Gabe Carimi
OT
Wisconsin
dannymac56
23 Philadelphia Nate Solder
OT
Colorado
JimmyK
24 New Orleans
Ryan Kerrigan
DE
Purdue
Charles L.
25 Seattle


Ejaay
26 Baltimore


LarrySoprano
27 Atlanta


pataroons
28 New England



Ryan Valentine?
29 Chicago


You're my boy, Blue
30 New York Jets



PlaxicoBurress
31 Pittsburgh


stephen_ross
32 Green Bay



NYG28

Round 2

Pos Team Player Pos School Drafter
33 New England



Ryan Valentine?
34 Buffalo


Bigbluethruandthru
35 Cincinnati


BitterEli
36 Denver



Mike Fiammetta
37 Cleveland


Bobely
38 Arizona



gmen2thebowl
39 Tennessee


RealLT
40 Dallas


Simms-McConkey
41 Washington


jcalafiore
42 Houston


daddyzander
43 Minnesota


RolloT
44 Detroit


BigBlueIntervention
45 San Francisco



Pat19
46 Denver



Mike Fiammetta
47 St. Louis



GiantNomad
48 Oakland


G Fan In England
49 Jacksonville



ct17
50 San Diego



Anthony P
51 Tampa Bay



willgfass
52 N.Y. Giants


Ed Valentine
53 Indianapolis



dannymac56
54 Philadelphia


JImmyK
55 Kansas City



The Blood Of Eli
56 New Orleans



Charles L.
57 Seattle


Ejaay
58 Baltimore


LarrySoprano
59 Atlanta


pataroons
60 New England



Ryan Valentine?
61 San Diego



Anthony P
62 Chicago



You're my boy, Blue
63 Pittsburgh


stephen_ross
64 Green Bay



NYG28