Dan Morgan retired from the NFL before he even got to play for the Saints.  Concussion problems have ruined his once very promising NFL career.  Scott Shanle will be penciled in as the starter at right outside linebacker and that’s what the Saints were trying to avoid this season so they might try to bring in some competition for him.

The Saints continued the never ending search for quality corners with the selection of Tracy Porter in the 2nd round.  Porter is only 5′10″, 184 pounds but he runs a 4.41 40 and sometimes makes up for mistakes with his speed.  But he’s as soft as a roll of Charmin and that needs to change if he wants to earn playing time for the Saints.  Porter played in 43 games (all starts) at Indiana and he made 212 tackles, broke up 30 passes, had 16 interceptions, forced 2 fumbles and recovered 4 fumbles.  Porter will likely make his paycheck playing on special teams as a rookie and he might get to play some in nickel and dime defenses.  This was a reach in the 2nd round.

The Saints traded up to get the player that they coveted all along in DT Sedrick Ellis from USC.  Ellis is a bad dude as he is equally good against both the run and the pass.  He might start the season as a backup but he will likely push Hollis Thomas to the bench at some point in the 2008 season.  Ellis stands at 6′0″, 308 pounds and he runs a 4.95 40 which is very impressive for a player his size.  Ellis played in 50 games (36 starts) in his career at USC and he made 144 tackles, had 28.5 tackles for a loss, had 17.5 sacks, batted down 13 passes, forced 2 fumbles and recovered 4 fumbles.  Ellis will be a impact player for the Saints and bring added toughness to a previously soft crew.