NFL New Orleans Saints

Danny Shelton Makes Most Sense For New Orleans Saints In 2015 NFL Draft

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By @jerry2landry

NFL Draft prospect Danny Shelton Washington Huskies

Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

I truly enjoy and devour the work of Mel Kiper. Whenever he releases a mock draft, I close all browser windows except the one focused on his latest list. Kiper has earned his audience and truly is the expert in this field, and that’s why it hurts to go on the record and disagree with him just this one time. Who he currently has the New Orleans Saints selecting in the first round of the 2015 NFL Draft is not who the Saints should pick.

Maybe this isn’t exactly a disagreement, but just a point of philosophy. I’ll state it simply: The Saints were terrible against the run in 2014, and now they need a run-stuffer. To stop the run, you need someone massive, and one of the most massive NFL prospects available is the former Washington Huskies defensive tackle Danny Shelton. Although just 6-foot-1, Shelton weighs an astonishing 332 pounds. In addition to shedding blocks and finding ball-carriers, he can also pressure the quarterback. In 2014, he compiled nine sacks for an otherwise underachieving 8-6 Huskies team.

Although Kiper has Shelton going one spot above the Saints and to the Cleveland Browns, a lot can happen within the first 11 picks (I’m sure you’ve seen the Kevin Costner movie, ‘Draft Day’). Saying Shelton will go to an already staunch Browns defense is a very bold prediction and may not even be the same forecast we’ll see in Kiper’s mock draft 2.0.

The NFL Draft is about not paying a premium for your critical needs, and the Saints critically need a star defensive lineman — even in a 3-4 system. Shelton isn’t the glamorous pick, but he is the best man to stop the bleeding.

Jerry Landry is a writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @Jerry2Landry, “Like” him on Facebook or add him to your network on Google.

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