Saints draft for depth

After months of turmoil and scandal, the New Orleans Saints finally got back to business as usual this weekend.

Well, sort of, at least.

Like every other NFL squad, the Saints added to their roster this weekend at the NFL Draft.

But unlike every other team, the Saints didn’t pick until the third round of the event, because they traded away their first round selection and had their second round pick forfeited by the NFL because of the team’s role in a bounty program.

They also didn’t have the input of head coach Sean Payton, who has already started his one year suspension.

All things considered, the Saints believe they’ve made their coach proud with their five selections with three new offensive players added to the team joining two defensive selections.

“We would like to say that Sean would have been so proud about how our scouts worked this weekend,” Saints interim coach Joe Vitt said. “There was really a great consensus on the players that we took. We took these players and they fit into the mode we want: their character, integrity, passion for the game and work habits.”

Below is an in-depth look at the Saints’ 2012 Draft class.

Third Round: Pick 26 (89th Overall)

Akiem Hicks

6’5’’, 324 pounds

Defensive tackle

University of Regina

New Orleans’ first pick was Hicks – a stocky, athletic defensive lineman who has Louisiana ties – just for all of the wrong reasons. Hicks started his collegiate career at Sacramento City Community College, where he recorded 33 tackles and two hurries as a sophomore. Following that season, he committed to continue his career at LSU and was in line to be a run-stopping contributor on the Tigers’ 2009 defensive front. But Hicks never played a down in Baton Rouge, as the Tigers turned themselves into the NCAA after it was learned that Hicks had received illegal funds from then-LSU assistant coach D.J. McCarthy during his recruitment. After sitting out all of 2009, Hicks transferred to Canada’s University of Regina, where he posted 35.5 tackles and 6.5 tackles for the team during their conference slate.

“We love his tenacity,” Vitt said. “We know he’s raw. He has to be coached, but that’s the fun part. He fits the character of our football team. He has good work habits. We love his resiliency.”

Fourth Round: Pick 27 (122ndth Overall)

Nick Toon

6’3’’, 220 pounds

Wide receiver

Wisconsin

With Robert Meachem gone in free agency, the Saints drafted his possible replacement in the fourth round, snatching Wisconsin receiver Nick Toon. A physical, possession-style receiver, Toon thrived throughout his entire career with the Badgers, racking up 2,447 career receiving yards and 18 career touchdowns. As a senior, Toon was doubly explosive, hauling in 64 passes for 926 yards and 10 touchdowns. Toon also has a knack for being solid in high-stakes games. In the 2012 Rose Bowl, Took recorded nine catches for 104 yards in the Badgers’ loss to Oregon.

Vitt said Toon will have a chance to compete early in the Saints’ wide-open attack. The receiver added he’s excited to be a part of elite quarterback Drew Brees’ offense.

“He is a Pro Bowl-caliber player,” Toon said. “He is one of the premier passers in the league – a great person on and off the field. … I can’t wait.”

Fifth Round: Pick 27 (162nd Overall)

Corey White

6’1’’, 210 pounds

Defensive back

Samford

Likewise, with Tracy Porter having departed the team in free agency, the Saints turned to the defensive backfield with their third selection, nabbing Samford’s ball-hawking cornerback Corey White. As a senior with the Bulldogs, White tied the Southern Conference lead with four interceptions. He also posted 58 tackles and five pass breakups. In his career, White posted 140 tackles and 118 solo stops. He goes down as the highest-drafted Samford player in school history. The Saints say they can’t wait to try and develop the physical, but raw prospect.

White agreed and said he is ready to get his chance in New Orleans.

“The Saints are a great team,” White said. “They do a great job in the draft every year. It doesn’t matter where you come from, big school or small school. As long as you, the player, have the right intentions going in to camp, you will be fine.”

Sixth Round: Pick 9 (179th Overall)

Andrew Tiller

6’5’’, 334 pounds

Offensive guard

Syracuse

With their immediate needs out of the way, the Saints used their sixth round pick to beef its offensive line, drafting Tiller – an All-Big East selection in 2011. With the Orange, Tiller helped block for 1,000-yard rusher Antwon Bailey and also helped the Orange convert 34-of-40 red zone trips into points – a mark that ranked second in the Big East. Tiller played three seasons with the Orange after beginning his career at Nassau Community College.

Tiller said he can play anywhere along the offensive line.

“I will play wherever they want me to play,” Tiller said. “They didn’t really tell me too much, just about the rookie Mini-camp in two weeks, but other than that I will play wherever. The last few years I played right guard.”

Seventh Round: Pick 27 (234th Overall)

Marcel Jones

6’7’’, 320 pounds

Offensive tackle

Nebraska

With their final selection of the draft, the Saints again boosted their offensive line, picking the mammoth Nebraska offensive tackle. With the Cornhuskers, Jones was a force as the team’s right tackle when healthy. But health was an issue throughout the prospect’s career, as he missed with almost the entire 2010 season with a back injury. He also missed time in 2009 with a bum ankle.

Now healthy, Jones said he hopes to quiet his critics and make his mark in New Orleans.

“Hopefully I will try to dispel some of those things about being injury prone and all of that stuff,” Jones said. “I tried to silence some of those critics with how I played my senior year.”