With the 2013 NFL draft less than a month away, the New Orleans Saints have begun to host some of their top draft prospects. It was reported that the Saints were hosting BYU defensive end Ezekiel Ansah, who is projected to be one of the top picks in the draft, but the Saints are hoping he will fall to them with their 15th pick.
The Saints are in need of a game-changing pass rusher and Ansah could definitely be that player. Ansah is versatile enough to line up as a defensive end or outside linebacker and would be great a great edge defender for the Saints.
The 6-foot-5 274 pound Ansah is extremely athletic and has tons of upside. He is very explosive and incredibly fast which allows him to get to the quarterback often. During his senior season Ansah made 62 tackles, 4.5 sacks, and defended nine passes.
Ansah is still very raw, but his athleticism and upside is enough to make him a top-20 pick. Furthermore, he figures to only improve and produce once he gets to the next level, and any team that drafts him could be getting a future star.
With the Saints hosting Ansah it is clear that the team would love to draft him with their 15th overall pick, and the team thinks he could be the game-changer they have been looking for. Since missing out on cornerbacks Nnamdi Asomugha and Tracy Porter, the Saints still need to address their thin secondary.
Some might argue that the Saints should consider using their 15th pick on a cornerback or safety, but even with all of their defensive line signings they still need a nice young pass rusher. Bottom line, if Ansah is available at 15 the Saints should seriously consider drafting him.
I am sure the Saints will like what they see from Ansah and given his frame, athletic ability, and upside he is sure to be a great NFL player.
Alejandro Aviles is the Featured Writer for the New Orleans Saints at Rant Sports @aaviles312