Travis Long and the NFL: New Orleans Saints
By Josh Davis
New Orleans Saints
December 16, 2012; New Orleans, LA, USA; A New Orleans Saints player holds his helmet during the fourth quarter of a game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. The Saints defeated the Buccaneers 41-0. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports
The Saints have a limited amount of space with only five picks and don’t really have a pick where Travis Long could be considered a true “value” pick, after his injury. The defense for New Orleans is simply horrible, so they’re going to be looking for explosive play-maker-types. Rob Ryan isn’t the “steady performer” type of guy, he’s the go big or go home risk taker and he likes his defensive players to display the same charisma.
The Perfect Storm:
Despite that stuff, Travis Long fits so neatly into this defense it’s silly. Long could be the type of steady performer in the new 3-4 scheme at both backer and end that the Saints have missed for several seasons now. In order for the Saints to go after him with their final pick in the 6th, I think it would take a few of their other names off of the board and Travis Long just happens to make too much sense to pick away from.
If the Saints pick some offensive firepower early it’s a good bet they’ll be looking defense late.
Likelihood of Getting Drafted by Saints:
C (I can see it, it makes sense, but it doesn’t grade out with the factors in play)