Lito Sheppard: Saints offering the most for him (1 Viewer)

[Moldy Potato]

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Saints have best offer for Eagles’ Sheppard

By Bob Brookover

INQUIRER STAFF WRITER

All the speculation finally becomes something more tomorrow when the NFL draft begins at 3 p.m.

Lito Sheppard, barring some unforeseen development, will become a member of another team and we'll all get to see what he brings in return. Early tonight, it was the New Orleans Saints' second-round pick that qualified as the best offer on the table.

A league source said five teams had made offers for Sheppard. The St. Louis Rams and Tampa Bay Buccaneers were among those five teams and the source said the Eagles were still hopeful when they went to bed last night that some team would improve its offer tomorrow.

The Saints' second-round pick is the 40th overall. Another league source said the Rams were unwilling to give up their second-round pick for Sheppard, which is the 33d overall. In a normal draft year that would be the first pick of the second round, but this year it is the second pick because the New England Patriots were stripped of the 32d overall pick in the first round.

New Orleans is in definite need of help at corner even though free-agent cornerbacks Randall Gay and Aaron Glenn signed with the team as free agents this offseason. The Saints finished 30th in pass defense last season.

Some reports Thursday said that Tampa Bay was the frontrunner to land Sheppard, but the league source said the Bucs did not have the best offer on the table as of early tonight. There was also speculation that the Bucs might include Michael Clayton in a deal for Sheppard, but the source said the Eagles were not interested in the veteran wide receiver. Tampa Bay has the 52d overall pick in the second round.

The league source said the Eagles were still considering keeping Sheppard, but that remains an unlikely scenario. It's no secret that Sheppard is unhappy with his contract. He is signed through 2011 and is scheduled to make $2 million this season. The source said that Sheppard wants his contract sweetened, but that he is not asking to be treated like an unrestricted free agent.

If, as expected, the Eagles do land another second-round pick, it would give them more leverage to move up in the first round of tomorrow's draft. The Eagles, whose pick in the second round is the 49th overall, could use one of those picks to get a player they want but might not still be on the draft board when they are scheduled to make the 19th overall selection.

Eagles general manager Tom Heckert said Monday that there are definitely some players who the team would be willing to move up the draft board to take and the player who seems to fit that bill the best is Virginia offensive lineman Branden Albert, who isn't expected to be around when the Eagles make their selection.

Albert played primarily at left guard for Virginia, but most teams believe he could also have the ability to slide out to left tackle. If the Eagles want Vanderbilt's Chris Williams or Pittsburgh's Jeff Otah, it might also require them to move up from the 19th spot.

The other potential pick that could require a move up the draft board is Michigan State's Devin Thomas, who is considered the best wide receiver in the draft. With it looking highly unlikely that the Eagles are going to acquire a top veteran wide receiver via trade, it still seems possible that they might go after Thomas, who was also an outstanding kick returner in his final season with the Spartans.

If the Eagles do settle for an additional second-round pick, it would give them a total of 12 draft picks, including four of the top 80 selections. It's possible the Eagles could remain right in the 19th spot in the first round and select someone like Miami's Kenny Phillips, who is considered the best safety in the draft.

Anything is possible, but the good thing is we've finally arrived at draft day and we'll get some answers instead of more speculation tomorrow. The other good thing is that the first 2009 mock draft isn't due out until Monday.

 

[Jason Wood]

I'm hearing way too many rumors involving the Saints to believe ANYTHING until I see it. That very same 40th pick is supposedly already committed to Jeremy Shockey; and was also rumored to be part of the offering New Orleans is making to move up into the top 5.

That said, IF (a HUGE IF), it's a legit offer, I would gladly take the 40th overall pick for Lito. We get rid of a guy that doesn't want to be here and put ourselves in position to draft someone that should start sooner rather than later at another position.

 

[Moldy Potato]

I'm hearing way too many rumors involving the Saints to believe ANYTHING until I see it. That very same 40th pick is supposedly already committed to Jeremy Shockey; and was also rumored to be part of the offering New Orleans is making to move up into the top 5. That said, IF (a HUGE IF), it's a legit offer, I would gladly take the 40th overall pick for Lito. We get rid of a guy that doesn't want to be here and put ourselves in position to draft someone that should start sooner rather than later at another position.

The more options the Saints have, the more leverage they have in negotiations. Supposedly the Giants are looking for more than #40 for Shockey. Maybe they'll change their minds if they see the Saints have other options.

 

[Jason Wood]

I'm hearing way too many rumors involving the Saints to believe ANYTHING until I see it. That very same 40th pick is supposedly already committed to Jeremy Shockey; and was also rumored to be part of the offering New Orleans is making to move up into the top 5. That said, IF (a HUGE IF), it's a legit offer, I would gladly take the 40th overall pick for Lito. We get rid of a guy that doesn't want to be here and put ourselves in position to draft someone that should start sooner rather than later at another position.

The more options the Saints have, the more leverage they have in negotiations. Supposedly the Giants are looking for more than #40 for Shockey. Maybe they'll change their minds if they see the Saints have other options.

Like I said, I would be 100% cool with the 40th pick for Lito. But I'm not even thinking about the possibility until it's announced by the NFL commissioner.

 

[Afro Samurai]

This seems like a smokescreen. The Saints already have umpteen corners on the roster:

McKenzie

Gay

Young

Craft

David

Glenn

Not that they couldn't use a player of Sheppard's ability (they obviously could) but that's a lot of resources tied up in one position. They didn't sign Gay and draft Usama Young to ride the bench. The only way this makes sense is if they think McKenzie's rehab is going badly and he won't be able to play.

 

[ATC1]

I'm hearing way too many rumors involving the Saints to believe ANYTHING until I see it. That very same 40th pick is supposedly already committed to Jeremy Shockey; and was also rumored to be part of the offering New Orleans is making to move up into the top 5. That said, IF (a HUGE IF), it's a legit offer, I would gladly take the 40th overall pick for Lito. We get rid of a guy that doesn't want to be here and put ourselves in position to draft someone that should start sooner rather than later at another position.

The more options the Saints have, the more leverage they have in negotiations. Supposedly the Giants are looking for more than #40 for Shockey. Maybe they'll change their minds if they see the Saints have other options.

I agree this could be used for leverage for Shockey. However, if the Saints can not move up to grab Dorsey or S. Ellis, I can see the Saints making an offer of the #10 for Lito and the #19. The Eagles can then get possibly the 2nd OL off the board instead of waiting to see who will be there after Denver, KC, Chicago.

 

[saintfool]

This seems like a smokescreen. The Saints already have umpteen corners on the roster:McKenzieGayYoungCraftDavidGlennNot that they couldn't use a player of Sheppard's ability (they obviously could) but that's a lot of resources tied up in one position. They didn't sign Gay and draft Usama Young to ride the bench. The only way this makes sense is if they think McKenzie's rehab is going badly and he won't be able to play.

Glenn will be lucky to make the team. If he does, there is talk of shifting him to Safety. They could cut Craft, Young and/or David. McKenzie is recovering from tearing his ACL and is entering the last year of his contract, I believe. It's conceivable but unlikely.