It's no secret the New Orleans Saints defense was one of the worst groups in the NFL last season.
The Rob Ryan-led unit finished 2014 ranked 25th in opponent passing yards and 29th against the run. While Ryan certainly shares in the blame, a larger portion of the fault for such a horrid performance seems to lie at the feet of GM Mickey Loomis.
Too few Saints defensive players have become impact performers in recent years, meaning Ryan is left to cobble together a unit of overpaid mercenaries and underperforming draft picks - of course, the fact that said draft picks underperform could point to a failing on Ryan's part, but considering he's still around, that's neither here nor there.
Taking into consider the legal battle facing Tom Benson and thus the uncertain ownership status of the franchise and the rapid aging of quarterback Drew Brees, the Saints chances of contending next season may depend entirely on Loomis' ability to draft a handful of truly elite defensive players in the 2015 NFL Draft.
"The Saints' window of opportunity is tied to the 36-year-old Drew Brees, meaning they must draft guys who can step in and help right away -- particularly on defense, where they struggled mightily in 2014," writes Gil Brandt of NFL.com. "The fact that last year's second-round pick, defensive back Stanley Jean-Baptiste, didn't contribute anything as a rookie only amplifies the urgency of the situation. It's never good when you use a selection that high on a guy who was, for all intents and purposes, a complete nonfactor."
Head coach Sean Payton, realizing the urgency of the situation facing his team, said recently that the team must find immediate contributors on defense in the upcoming NFL rookie meat market.
"It's going to be important for us defensively in this draft to bring in some guys that we feel like can help us play right away," Payton said, per Katherine Terrell of NOLA.com. "And I think if you're looking closely to when we've been real good, there's been that element defensively, there's been that element in the running game."
It's not just Brees' age and least season's failure that's increasing the urgency for the Saints and placing an increased importance on getting it right in the 2015 NFL Draft, though.
There's also the heinous salary cap situation in which New Orleans currently finds itself to consider as well.
"New Orleans' exceptionally restrictive cap situation makes it that much more important that this team maximizes its draft capital, including its two first-round picks (No. 13 and No. 31)," Brandt writes. "The Saints require a corner first and a middle linebacker second, though they shouldn't overdraft to fill the latter hole. In fact, so great is their need for additional talent, I think it might be worth exchanging that 31st pick for an extra lower-round slot or two. If the Saints are going to turn it around in 2015, it's going to happen largely with players they pick up in the draft."
The Saints, thus far in the pre-draft process, have been linked to any number of defensive players.
From inside linebackers like Bernardrick McKinney and Eric Kendricks to pass-rushers Randy Gregory and Eli Harold to cornerbacks Marcus Peters and Ronald Darby and so on and so forth.
As Brandt notes, the top needs for the team seem to be at corner and linebacker - it's simply a matter of Loomis and Payton targeting the guys they see as scheme fits and using their ample draft capital - three picks in the top 44, five in the top 78, nine altogether - to move around and ensure they wind up Saints.
The silver-lining for New Orleans fans - considering how poorly last season went, there's really no place for the Saints defense to go but up.
