New Orleans Saints: Making the case for Randy Gregory

By Luis Tirado Jr. | Apr 10, 2015

The New Orleans Saints made quite the blockbuster trade to kick off the 2015 NFL Free Agency period when they shocked the football world by trading tight end Jimmy Graham. They were able to fill a major need on their offensive line by acquiring Max Unger in that trade while also getting another valuable first-round pick. Make no mistake about it, this was a move to help the Saints start rebuilding their team towards greatness.

One major area that needs help is their pass rush on defense, which they can easily address at the 2015 NFL Draft by taking a chance on defensive end Randy Gregory. In my most recent mock draft, I actually had the Saints taking Alvin Dupree with their No. 13 overall pick. I’m starting to believe that Gregory might actually be a better option for what the Saints truly need.

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With his versatility, Gregory could be used either as a defensive end in a 4-3 or linebacker in a 3-4 and really push the envelope for the Saints come next season. He has a great motor, listens to coaches and could be developed towards being one of the top pass rushers in the league in due time.

Of course with Gregory’s failed drug test his draft stock will absolutely be affected and that is why I think he would still be available for the Saints at No. 13 as it would be worth the risk. I’m sure the Saints will put him on the right path towards controlling his demons and work on his on-the-field progression.

I could see the Saints turning Gregory into an outside linebacker on their defensive scheming and using his athleticism to bolster their run-stopping abilities. He needs some work with technique and using his skill-set strategically but I’m confident he’ll be just fine and pick things up rather quickly.

Most impressive about Gregory is his football IQ as he picks things up fast and continues to adapt. As a natural workaholic, Gregory would usher in a new era of toughness, hard work and making sure he does his part in bringing the Saints back to the top of the NFC South.

Speaking of which, this division is prime for the taking if the Saints can put everything together. Since they added youth and upgrades at center, linebacker and running back, they can now spend their draft picks on continuing to bolster their defense.

Feb 22, 2015; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Nebraska Cornhuskers defensive lineman Randy Gregory goes through a pass interception drill during the 2015 NFL Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports

Since they have both the No. 13 and No. 31 picks in the draft, they could easily go the route of taking Gregory and possibly adding another cornerback into the mix. Defensive coordinator Rob Ryan will need to put out his finest defensive scheming next season since the Saints were pretty bad last year on that side of the football.

Without any real pass rushing skills, the Saints ended up 25th in the NFL with sacks at 34.0 and just couldn’t create any turnovers whether through fumbles or interceptions.

Gregory has a high ceiling and if the Saints take a chance on him, there is no doubt that he’ll put in double the work to prove they didn’t make a mistake in drafting him.

Overall, Gregory might be a risky choice to make but I’m confident Ryan will get the best out of him and in a few months, his drug use history will be a distant memory. He’ll replace all the news of his failed drug test by living up to the hype and showing the football world he’s much more than that.

Next: New Orleans Saints: Mark Ingram will thrive in 2015

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