In a perfect world, the Saints would come out of this year's draft with a ball-hawk safety, a pass-rushing linebacker, a power-running tailback, some developmental talent at center and defensive tackle and a few more quot;best available playersquot; sprinkled in.
Of course, that will be awfully hard to do with just four picks in this year's draft -- the No. 14 overall pick, two fourth-rounders and a seventh-rounder Sunday.
We broke down the Saints' current depth chart, ranked in order of their most pressing needs, along with 16 prospects who could wind up in New Orleans:
--- 1. Safety (high priority) ---
Current depth chart: Darren Sharper, Roman Harper, Chris Reis, Pierson Prioleau, Usama Young (CB/S)
Possible first-round targets: Malcolm Jenkins (CB/S) Ohio State
--- 2. Outside linebacker (high) ---
Current depth chart: Scott Fujita, Scott Shanle, Dan Morgan, Jo-Lonn Dunbar, Troy Evans, Anthony Waters
Possible first-round targets: Clay Matthews, USC; Brian Cushing, USC; Aaron Maybin (DE/OLB), Penn State; Everette Brown (DE/OLB), Florida State; Larry English (DE/OLB), Northern Illinois
--- 3. Running back (medium) ---
Current depth chart: Reggie Bush, Pierre Thomas, Mike Bell, Lynell Hamilton
Possible first-round targets: Knowshon Moreno, Georgia; Chris Wells, Ohio State
--- 4. Defensive tackle (medium) ---
Current depth chart: Sedrick Ellis, Kendrick Clancy, Hollis Thomas, Brian Young, DeMario Pressley, Roderick Coleman, Remi Ayodele
Possible first-round targets: B.J. Raji, Boston College; Peria Jerry, Mississippi
--- 5. Cornerback (medium) ---
Current depth chart: Tracy Porter, Jabari Greer, Randall Gay, Usama Young (CB/S), Leigh Torrence, Jason David
Possible first-round targets: Jenkins; Vontae Davis, Illinois; Darius Butler, Connecticut
--- 6. Center (medium) ---
Current depth chart: Jonathan Goodwin, Nick Leckey
Possible first-round targets: None
--- 7. Defensive end (medium) ---
Current depth chart: Will Smith, Charles Grant, Bobby McCray, Paul Spicer, Jeff Charleston, Rob Ninkovich, Josh Savage
Possible first-round targets: Maybin, Brown, English, Tyson Jackson, LSU; Robert Ayers, Tennessee
--- 8. Guard (medium) ---
Current depth chart: Jahri Evans, Carl Nicks, Jamar Nesbit, Tim Duckworth
Possible first-round targets: None
--- 9. Offensive tackle (low) ---
Current depth chart: Jammal Brown, Jon Stinchcomb, Zach Strief, Jermon Bushrod
Possible first-round targets: Michael Oher, Mississippi
--- 10. Receiver (low) ---
Current depth chart: Marques Colston, Lance Moore, Devery Henderson, Robert Meachem, Adrian Arrington, Courtney Roby, Skyler Green, Biren Ealy
Possible first-round targets: None
--- 11. Middle linebacker (low) ---
Current depth chart: Jonathan Vilma, Mark Simoneau, Marvin Mitchell
Possible first-round targets: Rey Maualuga, USC
--- 12. Tight end (low) ---
Current depth chart: Jeremy Shockey, Billy Miller, Dan Campbell, Darnell Dinkins, Buck Ortega, Kolo Kapanui
Possible first-round targets: None
--- 13. Quarterback (low) ---
Current depth chart: Drew Brees, Mark Brunell, Joey Harrington
Possible first-round targets: None
--- 14. Fullback (low) ---
Current depth chart: Heath Evans, Darian Barnes, Olaniyi Sobomehin
Possible first-round targets: None
--- 15. Specialists ---
Priority level: Low
Current depth chart: K Garrett Hartley; P Glenn Pakulak; LS Kevin Houser; KR Roby, Green; PR Bush, Moore
Possible first-round targets: None
