A lot of folks in Southern Louisiana are excited about the possibility of New Orleans native and LSU star running back Leonard Fournette landing with the New Orleans Saints in this year’s draft if he falls to the No. 11 pick.
I’m a tougher sell than most, since I think the Saints have so many more glaring needs. I’m not a big fan of drafting running backs that high in general. And the Saints already have a dynamic offense and a very good running back in Mark Ingram, who is still just 27 years old.
Then again, I do see the appeal of drafting a dynamo like Fournette – whom many analysts project to go to the rival Carolina Panthers with the No. 8 pick.
That’s a pairing that no Saints fan can be very excited about.
The running backs come in at No. 8 in my position-by-position breakdown of the Saints’ offseason needs:
Current depth chart:
Mark Ingram. Age 27, signed through 2018. 2017 salary and bonuses: $3.6 million. 2017 salary-cap number: $5.245 million.
Tim Hightower. Age 30, unrestricted free agent.
Travaris Cadet. Age 28, unrestricted free agent.
Daniel Lasco. Age 24, signed through 2019. 2017 salary and bonuses: $540,000. 2017 salary-cap number: $558,868.
Marcus Murphy. Age 25, signed through 2018. 2017 salary and bonuses: $615,000. 2017 salary-cap number: $632,322.
FB John Kuhn. Age 34, signed through 2017. 2017 salary and bonuses: $1.08 million. 2017 salary-cap number: expected to be $615,000.
Analysis:
It feels like Ingram has been around forever (six years, to be exact). But he is still just 27 years old, and he is running as strong as ever.
Ingram ran for a career-high 1,043 yards from scrimmage last year, gained a career-high 1,362 yards from scrimmage, scored a career-high 10 touchdowns and tied with Ezekiel Elliott for fifth in the NFL with a career-high 5.1 yards per carry. All of this after surviving a temporary demotion early in the season when he lost a career-high two fumbles in back-to-back games.
I’m not saying the Saints can’t make room for an upgrade, though – especially in the draft. Ingram does have some miles on the tires now. Backup Hightower is even older (and still unsigned as a free agent). And the Saints could use a dynamic pass-catching threat in the mold of Reggie Bush, Darren Sproles and what they hoped C.J. Spiller would become. Especially if they see that player being able to return punts or kickoffs.
That’s why someone like Florida State’s Dalvin Cook or Stanford’s Christian McCaffrey could be even more attractive to the Saints in Round 1 or 2.
The argument for drafting Fournette in Round 1 is that the Saints could began the transition to more of a run-first or power-rushing attack to take some pressure off 38-year-old QB Drew Brees. But I don’t see the Saints ever becoming a run-first team as long as Brees, coach Sean Payton and young dynamic receivers Brandin Cooks and Michael Thomas are around.
And I do see much more glaring needs for improvement on defense and the offensive line.
Previous rankings: