Fontenot and Previous Drafts

[XXVIII-III 1,220]

https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/nor/draft.htm
 

Outside of 2017, I’m not impressed at all with how the Saints have drafted. I know Fontenot wasn’t the main man there and if I understand correctly he was involved with pro personnel, but I’m a little worried.

I know it’s late to be bringing this up, but I haven’t had much time to research until now.

I’m kinda concerned. Def don’t want any Davenport type moves in the draft...

 

[Foo Falcons 799]

Heard the Davenport move was Payton. And yeah this very reason had me wanting the former LAR guy that went to Detroit but after he signed with them Fontenot was definitely the next best option and arguably better for sure. Just not based on the two team's recent drafting

[PriMeTiiMe 7,963]

Look at the great job the Saints did in Free agency over the years, that was more so in line with what Fontenot was in charge of.

We brought in Kyle Smith from Washington who will likely be much more involved in regards to the college scouting since that's not really Fontenot's expertise. Washington has done a great job drafting recently and Washington fans really wanted him to get the GM spot. Most were sad to see him go. Theirs a good article about how badly he wanted Washington to not draft Haskins but Snyder forced his hand.

Chase Young, Antonio Gibson, Kamren Curl, Montez Sweat, Terry McClaurin, Wes Martin, Cole Holcomb and Jimmy Moreland are all starters that they drafted in just the last 2 years. Many future stars in that list.

[alexhead97 128]

I think it's also worth looking at Washington's recent draft history with Kyle Smith on board now. Their recent drafts seem a lot more promising (minus Haskins who was Snyder's pick) so hopefully he's got a decent say in this one. 

[Jesus 26,713]

Not impressed with how the saints have drafted?

Are you impressed with their record?

[ATLskinjob 1,043]

2 minutes ago, Jesus said:

Not impressed with how the saints have drafted?

Are you impressed with their record?

People seriously discount how difficult it is to draft well. They act like if every single pick isn't a hall of famer then you're a terrible GM. Drafting Cam Jordan, Kamara, Lattimore, that whole offensive line and I'm sure there's a bunch I'm missing, is very very impressive. Combine that with how well they've done in free agency and you've got a recipe for a team that is a perennial contender.

[ATLFalcon36 2,926]

Not until this offseason did I really pay much credence to TD's FA history/success rate with the same priority as draft history, but after looking back... HOLY CRAP TD was TERRIBLE at assessing pro talent (or our coaches were terrible at developing/maintaining it or both).

 

TD FA Busts: Ray Edwards, Steven Jackson, Osi, Tyson Jackson, Soliai, Asamoah, Dunta Robinson, Tatupu, probably way more than this.

On the success side the only ones that come to mind are Alex Mack then he pulled some good trades for starters with Tony G, Asante Samuel and Levitre (when healthy) but those weren't FA signings.

 

Outside of inheriting Abraham TD did not bring in a single good EDGE player his entire tenure (don't care about VB's fluke year). Fontenot being a pro specialist improving our FA scouting is going to be tremendous for this team.

[RetroRoq 654]

I've said it a million times and I will say it again.

If you look at the Saints strategy to replace their aging QB over the last few years, it was never through the draft.  You have to believe that Fontenot is not interested in drafting a backup QB this year.  Somehow, I have got to suspect this was addressed during the interview process.

There are rumors that when they thought Brees was going to retire last offseason, they had already begun their run at Brady.

This was Fontenot's side of the house.  His Modus Operandi.  Why would he change now?

[g-dawg 43,615]

Just now, RetroRoq said:

I've said it a million times and I will say it again.

If you look at the Saints strategy to replace their aging QB over the last few years, it was never through the draft.  You have to believe that Fontenot is not interested in drafting a backup QB this year.  Somehow, I have got to suspect this was addressed during the interview process.

There are rumors that when they thought Brees was going to retire last offseason, they had already begun their run at Brady.

This was Fontenot's side of the house.  His Modus Operandi.  Why would he change now?

the Saints had been selling out for SuperBowl because their roster was good enough to win a SuperBowl.

the Falcons roster isn't.   Two extra draft picks aren't going to make it good enough.

Apples and Oranges

Apples and Oranges

[falcons007 25,118]

You can’t cherry pick just the draft. Aints made moves complementing in draft and FA. When you are going to make moves, you are bound to miss few. Better than TD signing washed up players and playing it safe.

[RetroRoq 654]

1 minute ago, g-dawg said:

the Saints had been selling out for SuperBowl because their roster was good enough to win a SuperBowl.

the Falcons roster isn't.   Two extra draft picks aren't going to make it good enough.

Apples and Oranges

Apples and Oranges

He was with them for 20 years, they drafted one backup QB in the 3rd round.

[pa_falcon_fan 2,235]

54 minutes ago, PriMeTiiMe said:

Look at the great job the Saints did in Free agency over the years, that was more so in line with what Fontenot was in charge of.

We brought in Kyle Smith from Washington who will likely be much more involved in regards to the college scouting since that's not really Fontenot's expertise. Washington has done a great job drafting recently and Washington fans really wanted him to get the GM spot. Most were sad to see him go. Theirs a good article about how badly he wanted Washington to not draft Haskins but Snyder forced his hand.

Chase Young, Antonio Gibson, Kamren Curl, Montez Sweat, Terry McClaurin, Wes Martin, Cole Holcomb and Jimmy Moreland are all starters that they drafted in just the last 2 years. Many future stars in that list.

^^ THIS.  The Saints draft isn't what you should be looking at for Fontenot.  It is free agency since he was Pro Personnel.  The Saints have done a really good job of bringing in veterans to fill holes, which is where TD really failed.  That is part of why we've been so screwed with the cap over the last few years ... overpaying free agents who ended up not producing for us and then having to eat cap hits to get rid of them.

[Dr Long Shot 4,082]

The drafting will be a big time collaborative effort. There is no way to predict how it will go all we can do is cross our fingers all the people involved are up to it. 

Edited February 10 by Dr Long Shot

[JDaveG 43,802]

In addition to the fact that their team and team needs were way different from ours, there is also the fact that a GM has control that a director of pro personnel just doesn't.  Fontenot is in charge now.  We hired TD from New England, and he was nothing like Pioli and Belichick in his approach.  What we have to hope is that Fontenot has learned the right lessons and isn't just trying to make a name for himself via headlines.

Given his initial presser, I have a lot of hope and confidence he is the right guy, and is not just trying to make splash moves.  Build the team.  The splashes will come when we start winning.  He strikes me as that kind of guy.  How many times did he say it was his job to "get the right guys on the bus?"

[g-dawg 43,615]

1 hour ago, RetroRoq said:

He was with them for 20 years, they drafted one backup QB in the 3rd round.

Falcons wouldn't be "drafting a backup QB" - that is what you don't understand.     Whoever the Falcons would draft - the plan would be by 2022 or 2023, he would be their 10+ year starter, if elite

[Atl Falcon 4,153]

3 hours ago, XXVIII-III said:

https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/nor/draft.htm
 

Outside of 2017, I’m not impressed at all with how the Saints have drafted. I know Fontenot wasn’t the main man there and if I understand correctly he was involved with pro personnel, but I’m a little worried.

I know it’s late to be bringing this up, but I haven’t had much time to research until now.

I’m kinda concerned. Def don’t want any Davenport type moves in the draft...

 

That’s a huge reach to credit or discredit Fonty. He’s his own person and let him do his thing before judging. I guarantee one thing for sure....it won’t take him 13 yrs to never find a pass rusher like the previous yes man GM. I doubt he’ll have us in cap hail with an mediocre roster like TD did. 

[Herr Doktor 8,710]

I think he will do just fine.  As long as he sticks to his plan.  They have one, execute it.

[Falcanuck 10,538]

That 2017 draft is actually nuts

[ike barn87987 1,774]

3 hours ago, PriMeTiiMe said:

Look at the great job the Saints did in Free agency over the years, that was more so in line with what Fontenot was in charge of.

We brought in Kyle Smith from Washington who will likely be much more involved in regards to the college scouting since that's not really Fontenot's expertise. Washington has done a great job drafting recently and Washington fans really wanted him to get the GM spot. Most were sad to see him go. Theirs a good article about how badly he wanted Washington to not draft Haskins but Snyder forced his hand.

Chase Young, Antonio Gibson, Kamren Curl, Montez Sweat, Terry McClaurin, Wes Martin, Cole Holcomb and Jimmy Moreland are all starters that they drafted in just the last 2 years. Many future stars in that list.

It’s funny that I was looking up Kyle Smith this morning at 3am before I went to work. And I think right now he is the best hire in the FO. Nothing but good words about him in DC. I think his hire is equivalent to Pees for the coaching staff. He knows the SE region and WAS has drafted a lot of DL recently. They also got the guy from NC St, and I’m hoping he knows something about McNeill. But Smith is a very good hire.

[falconsd56 26,679]

One of my main concerns with him (and it was with TD ultimately ended up being wrong)

Is that...he was not " the guy"...he may have been a part of the decision, but ultimately the decision came from SP.

TD was not the guy either....the decision came down to BB....and the Patriots had a couple really bad drafts before  TD was hired .

He did things his way rather than BB's way and he was fortunate that his early moves paid off big time and we had alot of success early.

The other major concern is, the saints for all of their success the last couple of years...they have built just as poor of defenses as we have....if not worse. Their 3 year stretch from 14-16 and 4 out of 5 including 2012 is among the worst stretches in league history.

Their defense has been better the last couple of years but still as recently as 2018 their defense was just slightly above average.(14th)

He gets the benefit of the doubt , just like TD did and hopefully he has the ability to turn things around like TD did.

 

[Scott1988 291]

1 hour ago, Falcanuck said:

That 2017 draft is actually nuts

and we almost had Patrick Mahomes (over Lattimore) before KC jumped a spot ahead of us in the draft

[RetroRoq 654]

4 hours ago, g-dawg said:

Falcons wouldn't be "drafting a backup QB" - that is what you don't understand.     Whoever the Falcons would draft - the plan would be by 2022 or 2023, he would be their 10+ year starter, if elite

So, for 2021 and 2022 or maybe 2023, what would he be? The future QB for 10 years who isnt the backup?

Own this fact. You are advocating drafting a backup QB. If you are going to promote a narrative that has no logical basis in reality, then at least man up and own the basic premise of what you yourself are promoting.

Imagine Fontenot telling Blank, "hey Arthur, we are using pick #4 in 2021 on a guy who may be ready for a 10 year career in 2023, but until then he wont be the backup QB.  Lets sell tickets." 

[g-dawg 43,615]

46 minutes ago, RetroRoq said:

So, for 2021 and 2022 or maybe 2023, what would he be? The future QB for 10 years who isnt the backup?

Own this fact. You are advocating drafting a backup QB. If you are going to promote a narrative that has no logical basis in reality, then at least man up and own the basic premise of what you yourself are promoting.

Imagine Fontenot telling Blank, "hey Arthur, we are using pick #4 in 2021 on a guy who may be ready for a 10 year career in 2023, but until then he wont be the backup QB.  Lets sell tickets." 

ok - you are right.  don't know what I was thinking.