The New Orleans Saints didn’t pick up the fifth year option on Mark Ingram. This isn’t a surprise at all. Ingram hasn’t done anything since stepping on to the scene in 2011. Eventhough he had an outstanding end of last season, it doesn’t make up for his slow start of his career. The fifth year option would cost the Saints $5.21 million. He is defiantly not worth that type of money. The Saints still have Running backs Pierre Thomas Travaris Cadet, and Khiry Robinson. I am very pleased with the way these guys have been playing. Thomas is a proven guy who won a championship in 09 Robinson and Cadet are hard nosed runners who will fight to earn every yard. With that being said not picking up the fifth year option on Ingram is a sign that they have enough confidence in  those guys. Now with that being said, declining the fifth year option doesn’t mean Ingram won’t be a Saint next year. If Ingram preforms well this season, their is still the option the Saints could sign him to a long term contract.

I do agree with the Saints declining the fifth year option. Why give someone $5.21 million when they really haven’t done anything? Hopefully this will light a fire in Ingram and he will perform as well this season as he did last year in the playoffs.If he doesn’t i except Ingram to be given a change of scenery.

A lot of NFL analysts and fans are mock drafting as the NFL draft grows closer. Mock drafting is like a prediction of who each team will pick in April’s NFL rookie draft. The NFL draft is seven rounds 254 picks. Currently the Saints have the overall 27th pick in the 1st round. Most mock drafts are of the 1st round only. According to the mock drafts on NFL.com  the possible draft targets by the Saints are Auburn defensive end Dee Ford, Virgina Tech corner back Kyle Fuller, and Missouri defensive end Kony Ealy.

I disagree with Dee Ford and Kyle Fuller. I think their are better players at their position that could slip to the Saints. I could see Kony Ealy in the black and gold this fall. He is a monster with a 6′ 4”  273 pound frame and a 4.6 second 40 yard dash time. That’s fast for a guy his size. I feel happy about the Saints defensive end situation right now with Cameron Jordan and Junior Galette, so in all honesty i would hope the Saints look to strengthen the secondary or wide receivers after the departure of Lance Moore and Jabari Greer. Then again, the Saints could add another defensive end, so they will have depth to sub guys in and out to keep them fresh.

A couple that I like  are Flordia State wide receiver  Kelvin Benjamin, Oklahoma State corner back Justin Gilbert, Texas A&M wide receiver Mike Evans, and TCU corner back Jason Verrett. Kelvin Benjamin is a big body at 6′ 5” 240 lbs. He could give Drew Brees another outside threat along with Marques Colston. Benjamin ran a 4.6 40 yard dash at the NFL combine. Even though i really like Evans, i believe he will be gone by the time the Saints are up to pick. As far as Justin Gilbert and Jason Verett go they have the ability to play pretty good defense. Verrett has really good ball skills, that makes him a threat to undercut routes and intercept the ball. My only issue with him is his height and length. So he may struggle going up against the bigger wide receivers in the NFL. I really like Gilbert. He has good size for a corner back, six feet tall and just above two bills. He also possesses good ball skills, has the ability to defend the deep ball, and  has the break away speed that if he intercepts the ball he can take it to the end zone for the touchdown. Also, he has good kick and punt return abilities. The Saints lost both of their primary kick returners in Lance Moore and Darren Sproles, so he could fit into that role as well.

I am really excited about the NFL draft this April and can’t wait to see who the Saints select in the draft. As always  Who Dat!