The New Orleans Saints had a tough season after dealing with the fallout from the bounty scandal and the team is looking to improve as they head out of the early free agent period and into the NFL draft, where they are expected to focus on defense after having one of the worst in the league last year. The team took Kenny Vaccaro with their first round pick and could go cornerback Tyrann Mathieu in the second or third round.
According to ESPN.com, the offensive line likely won't be a top priority, as the team added depth by signing free agent tackle Jason Smith to a one-year deal. Smith was traded from the Rams after being a first round pick to the Jets, who released him after a so-so season. He was the second pick in 2009 and has never lived up to that billing while starting just over half of his 45 games. He can play both tackle positions making the Saints flexible on the line and they lost Jermon Bushrod in free agency, so the signing takes care of a big need.
One area they likely will focus on is cornerback, as they tried to sign Tracy Porter and Nnamdi Asomugha, but they were spurned for the Oakland Raiders and San Francisco 49ers respectively. The team added some depth to the secondary in safety Jim Leonhard, who played for the Broncos last season, signing a deal with the team to play for his former coach's brother in Rob Ryan.
Leonhard is 30-years-old but is a versatile safety that has made 344 tackles, 3.5 sacks, eight interceptions and two forced fumbles in 110 games and he will give the team a chance to improve on one of the worst pass defenses in the league. He played with the Jets for a number of years and has proven to be a leader on defense.
The Saints have a number of options in the draft and could go for cornerback, running back, linebacker and defensive end and the team is also looking at Lawrence Okoye, a British Olympian who put up some amazing numbers at the regional combine. The team brought in cornerback Keenan Lewis and they still could add depth later in the draft with names like Desmond Trufant and Tyrann Mathieu.
Don Banks at SI.com has the Saints taking Jarvis Jones at linebacker with the 15th pick and that could be an excellent option to help immediately improve one of the worst defenses in the league. Other players around there the team could look at includes Tavon Austin, Tank Carradine, Alec Ogletree or DJ Fluker.
The team ranked first in passing last season but 25th in rushing yards per game and the defense was awful, ranking 31st in passing yards and 32nd in rushing yards per game with over 140. The team allowed nearly 300 passing yards per game and opened the year with four straight losses. The return of coach Sean Payton should help set things right as should the draft.
