Draftees, free agents give Saints added depth

$100 million can buy WHAT?
July 25, 2012
Breaking down the schedule
July 25, 2012
$100 million can buy WHAT?
July 25, 2012
Breaking down the schedule
July 25, 2012

Last year, the New Orleans Saints finished three wins short of the ultimate goal – the Super Bowl championship.


They obviously had that in mind when structuring their offseason plan.

Throughout the course of free agency and the NFL Draft, the Saints pinpointed players aimed to strengthen their areas of weakness from last season.


They also signed players to soften the blow of suspensions in lieu of the team’s bounty scandal.


Here is an in-depth look at the new faces the Saints are set to unveil in the 2012 season.

Free agent signees:


Ben Grubbs


6’3’’, 310 pounds

Offensive guard


Five-year pro


With elite-level offensive guard Carl Nicks on the open market and demanding a price too steep for the Saints to match, New Orleans knew they’d need an offensive guard this offseason. The man they got seems more than capable of filling Nicks’ massive shoes. Grubbs has started 70 of his 74 games during a five-year stint with the Baltimore Ravens. The highlight season for Grubbs came in 2011 when the mammoth offensive lineman was named to the AFC’s Pro Bowl team.

Grubbs has long flirted with playing football in Louisiana.


Out of high school, the massive lineman flirted with LSU before eventually committing to Auburn.


Grubbs signed a five-year deal with New Orleans and said he cannot wait to lace ‘em up for the Black and Gold.

“There were a lot of things I had to factor in – winning, the locker room, coaches and location,” Grubbs said. “Location is at the bottom of my list but it is still important to me. When I looked at New Orleans, they had all the variables in the right place. It was an easy choice for me.”


Curtis Lofton


6’0’’, 241 pounds

Linebacker


Four-year pro


The Saints did not know for certain that Jonathan Vilma would be suspended when they signed Curtis Lofton in March. But let’s be real – they had an inkling Vilma would miss at least some action. With that in mind, the Saints inked former Falcon linebacker Curtis Lofton to fill in for the exiled linebacker. Lofton, 26, is more than a stopgap. He’s a solid NFL player. Last season, the former Falcon recorded 147 tackles and two interceptions.

He said after playing against New Orleans for four seasons, he is excited to join what he called a “proven winner.”


“From what I saw, I felt like they were a couple of players away from winning a Super Bowl,” Lofton said. “I feel like I could be one of those missing pieces and I want to link up with them and take a shot at getting another Super Bowl.”


Drafted players:

Akiem Hicks


Third Round: Pick 26 (89th Overall)


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.”


Nick Toon


Fourth Round: Pick 27 (122ndth Overall)

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, Toon 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.

“Everybody was excited, my whole family,” Toon said. “I have some close friends here. Everyone was very excited. Everyone is looking forward to cheering for myself and the New Orleans Saints.”

Corey White

Fifth Round: Pick 27 (162nd Overall)

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.”

Andrew Tiller

Sixth Round: Pick 9 (179th Overall)

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.”

Marcel Jones

Seventh Round: Pick 27 (234th Overall)

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 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.

Former Atlanta Falcons linebacker Curtis Lofton chases down New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning. Lofton was the Saints’ biggest signing this offseason. 

AP PHOTO | JULIO CORTEZ