The New Orleans Saints still have questions to answer as the 2023 NFL Draft arrives, but the urgency isn't what it could've been.
There were some "musts" to address entering free agency, but those have been handled with some key signings, Mickey Loomis said on the eve of the first round.
"I think we’ve done a pretty good job in this offseason of taking a lot of those musts and turning them into wants or needs," Loomis said.
It's all a fancy way of saying that, with the Saints set to pick at No. 29, they won't be cornered into making any draft picks simply because they need to fill holes. The Saints made a handful of understated signings in DTs Khalen Saunders and Nathan Shepherd, along with more splashy signings in QB Derek Carr and RB Jamaal Williams.
The running back question is a bit more complicated due to Alvin Kamara's looming legal situation, but it won't be what spurs the Saints into anything, either.
"It’s not going to influence who we pick, because look, that’s a short-term issue and we don’t know what that’s going to be yet," Loomis said. "So, am I concerned about it? Sure, certainly, because it’s going to affect our team if something happens there, but it’s a temporary issue.”
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The Saints currently own eight picks in the upcoming draft, picks in each of the first four rounds (29, 40, 71 and 115), and a pair of picks in each of the 5th (146 and 165) and 7th rounds (227 and 257). When asked about the flexibility that many picks provides, Loomis was quick to point out "right now we have eight picks," making a clear implication that the total could change.
It's not a surprise, considering the Saints' draft history under Loomis, but it's always a wild card. The Saints GM did say he doesn't see his team as having the ammunition necessary for a major move up the board, but leapfrogging higher into the first round is definitely on the table, as are moves throughout draft weekend.
“I think when you have a conviction, if you love somebody if you go get them, that’s my preferred policy. Find somebody that you love and go get them," he said. "And if you think you can get them where you’re at, then you stay where you’re at. I just feel like the philosophy of trading back means that if you really believe in your board and you believe how it’s going to fall, it’s that you’re moving back to get a lesser player. ... It’s not to say we wouldn’t move back, but that’s the philosophy here.”
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MORE FROM MICKEY LOOMIS
THOUGHTS ON THE DL CLASS
“I think it’s a good group, yea. I think it’s a good group. I don’t want to give away anything so I’m not going to talk about any individuals.”
ON DRAFTING AN RB IN THE FIRST ROUND
“I think definitely the position has been valued differently by our league over time. … It kind of depends upon the level of talent and the impact a player can make. It’s definitely different than it was 10 or 20 or 30 years ago, but they’re still valuable players. Every position is valuable, particularly if you can get someone that’s an elite player at any position.”
WHAT'S THE SAINTS DRAFT PHILOSOPHY
“Look, we’re looking for the best player that we can get — the best football player we can get, and that encompasses a lot of thing. It’s not just about ability, it’s about the makeup of the player, does he fit our culture, is he going to be great in our locker room, does he have leadership skills? It’s all these other things outside of physical ability. So I think that’s an important part of it in terms of who we’re drafting, it’s man, let’s get somebody we love. That may be at a position we need, and hopefully it is, but it may be at a position that we already have as a strength.”
DO YOU TRACK DRAFT TRADE WINS & LOSSES?
“Yea, I look at every trade that’s happened in the last 12 years. I’ve got the book on my desk right now, I got through it every year. I look at every trade and I go, ‘ah, win, loss, win, loss.’ It’s not really win/loss, it’s ‘was that a good deal. Would you do it over again?’ Yea, I look at it every year.”
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