Pro Football Weekly and Riddell present ...
2002 NFL draft
End result
Saints improve on both sides of the ball
By Mike Holbrook, Managing editor of special projects
April 20, 2002
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| Randy Mueller is having quite a day. The Saints’ maligned general
manager has followed up some standout free-agency moves in recent weeks by making two
excellent first-round picks, improving his team on both sides of the ball in the process. I
loved his pick of Tennessee WR Donté Stallworth with the team’s first selection at
No. 13. Stallworth should give the Saints a potentially explosive offense with
skill-position players such as QB Aaron Brooks, RB Deuce McAllister and WR Joe Horn. Now
Mueller’s done it again with his pick of Georgia DE Charles Grant at No. 25.
After losing DE Joe Johnson and DT La’Roi Glover in free agency, the Saints had a
big need along the defensive line. Adding Grant, a player who had moved steadily up many
teams’ draft boards in recent weeks, at No. 25 is a master stroke.
Grant, a 6-3, 282-pounder, left school early but relied on outstanding workouts to
raise his stock. He really came on during the second half of his junior year and started
to get the idea that he was ready for the NFL. He has shown that he can be the kind of
pass rusher/run stopper that many teams covet.
The knocks on him are that he’s a little raw and immature, but head coach Jim
Haslett and veteran LB Bryan Cox should be able to provide the leadership that Grant needs
to move up to the next level.
You’ve got to hand it to Mueller. He didn’t panic with all of the trades
happening around him, sat tight and got the two players he desired. After a down season
last year, the Saints are putting the pieces in place to contend for a playoff bid once
again. |
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