Skip to main content

Saints have wide-ranging draft options

By WTOP Staff

BRETT MARTEL
AP Sports Writer

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — General manager Mickey Loomis and coach Sean Payton have orchestrated a considerable makeover for the New Orleans Saints, resulting in the departure of several veteran leaders from recent playoff teams.

While the signing of free agents has largely filled that void, the hope at Saints headquarters is that this week’s NFL draft will bring a few more instant contributors to a team that expects to return to the playoffs for the fifth time in six seasons.

Barring trades, New Orleans heads into Thursday night’s first round with the 27th overall pick, followed by six more picks in each of the second through sixth rounds, including two picks in the fifth.

“Our goal every year is to get the draft and be able to select the best player, the best fit for our team, regardless of position,” Loomis said. “I don’t know that I would say that we’ve got no holes, but I feel like we’ve got a good team and we’re going to draft the best player available to us that fits for our club.”

As the free agency period arrived, the Saints released safety Roman Harper, defensive end Will Smith, cornerback Jabari Greer and receiver Lance Moore. They also traded away running back Darren Sproles and decided not to re-sign free agents such as safety Malcolm Jenkins and linebacker Jon Vilma. Offensive regulars leaving as free agents included center Brian de la Puente and fullback Jed Collins.

New Orleans replaced Jenkins with Jairus Byrd, considered one of the best safeties available in free agency. The Saints also brought in veteran cornerback Champ Bailey, who’ll compete to take the spot that Greer lost to a serious knee injury last season.

Fullback Erik Lorig was signed to replace Collins and the Saints added another safety, Marcus Ball, who last played in the CFL.

No one, however, has been signed to replace Moore or de la Puente, meaning the Saints could at the very least use some depth at those spots, even if they think younger players on the roster are ready to step in.

Here are five things to watch as the Saints seek rookies who can help them get back to the Super Bowl for the first time since February 2010:

CORNER CONCERNS: While Bailey, who turns 36 next month, has distinguished himself as one of the best ever at his position, his age raises questions whether he’ll continue to play at an elite level.

Loomis and Payton say they expect Bailey to compete for a starting job, but they could very well pursue a cornerback in the first round to compete for that spot.

“I do believe they need a corner,” NFL Network draft analyst Mike Mayock said, mentioning Stanley Jean Baptiste from Nebraska as a prospect who could be available at 27th overall. “He’s a long corner that fits today’s game with an exciting skill set.”

Kyle Fuller of Virginia Tech is another cornerback that analysts see as a good fit.

Beyond Bailey, the top cornerbacks on the Saints’ roster are 2010 first-round pick Patrick Robinson, who is returning from a knee injury, and 2012 fifth-rounder Corey White.

HELPING HANDS: The Saints could use a versatile and speedy player in the passing game, having lost both Sproles and Moore. If that player can return punts and kicks, even better.

New Orleans has taken a hard look at LSU receiver Odell Beckham Jr., but he may not last until the 27th pick. Other possibilities include Marqise Lee of Southern Cal, Brandin Cooks of Oregon State and Davante Adams of Fresno State.

END RUSH: While the interior of New Orleans’ defensive line looks solid, the Saints could benefit from another pass rusher from the edge to rotate in with Cameron Jordan and Junior Galette. Many analysts view Auburn’s Dee Ford as a good prospect for New Orleans.

LINEBACKERS: Given defensive coordinator Rob Ryan’s preference for a 3-4 alignment, the Saints wouldn’t likely turn down adding a playmaking linebacker in the early rounds. That’s not an immediate need because Victor Butler is back from a knee injury and the Saints like inside linebackers Curtis Lofton and David Hawthorne.

Still, prospects such as C.J. Mosely of Alabama or Ryan Shazier of Ohio State could be hard to pass up.

BREES’ BLOCKERS: For now, Tim Lelito, a reserve center in 2013, appears the likely candidate to take over for de la Puente. The Saints have shown interest in veteran free agent Jonathan Goodwin, but have yet to sign him, so adding a prospect at that spot might suit them.

“Brian was a big contributor for us for a number of years and we see Tim as someone who has that potential,” Payton said. “But there’ll be competition at that position.”

___

Online:

AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and http://twitter.com/AP_NFL

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
Read Next Story

Related News

Frustration grows in Venezuela as earthquake death toll reaches 1,430

Israel and Lebanon sign framework agreement with US in ‘first step’ toward peace, Rubio says

Trump-endorsed populist poised to become Colombia’s next president as rival challenges vote