2011 SB Nation NFL Mock Draft: Round 1, Pick 24

Our annual 2011 NFL Mock Draft, with picks made by each of SB Nation’s NFL team bloggers, is in full swing. The latest pick in to the podium: the New Orleans Saints, at No. 24 overall.

Dave Cariello of CanalStreetChronicles.com explains the choice, and our own Dan Kadar reacts to it, after the jump. Make sure you’re grading this pick for the Saints, and checking out Canal Street Chronicles for all of your Saints needs.

Dave Cariello explains: Nearly every single Saints fan would agree that the team’s biggest need for improvement this off-season is in the pass rushing department. Wilkerson’s scouting report would have us believe he’s just the man for the job. So far this off-season, many mock drafts have Wilkerson already off the board by the time the Saints are set to pick. It would be a crime for me to pass up the opportunity to take him here for New Orleans. Sedrick Ellis has been holding his own on the inside of the defensive line, but he needs some help, and the Saints have lacked depth at the position for years. Hopefully, Wilkerson puts an end to that problem. He’s known to be scheme diverse, so the Saints could even move him over to defensive end as needed. Only a junior, I’m confident the Saints coaching staff has what it takes to mold and develop Wilkerson to be a top NFL talent.

Dan Kadar reacts: Unless the Saints think Will Smith and Alex Brown are going to revert to their old form, it would be hard to see them passing on end rushers like Aldon Smith and Justin Houston if they’re available. While neither have the power that New Orleans typically looks for in end prospects, the upgrade they’d give their pass rush is tremendous.

This is not to say Wilkerson is bad or he wouldn’t help the pass rush. But Smith and Houston would have a much greater impact. [Muhammad Wilkerson Scouting Report]