MIKE TRIPLETT: Hey Troy, I’m a little skeptical since Saints GM Mickey Loomis came out and told us that the Saints have been talking about trading up. Usually he plays it very close to the vest. … But I do think it makes sense for the Saints to move up to get the best defensive player available.

My guess is that they can’t get all the way up to No. 2 to get Glenn Dorsey, but they move up three or four spots to get USC defensive tackle Sedrick Ellis. … If they stay at No. 10, I expect them to grab either CB Ledois McKelvin or LB Keith Rivers.

By the way, if you want Ellis, you might want to root for QB Matt Ryan and RB Darren McFadden to go as early as possible. If a bunch of defensive players start flying off the board early, Ellis could go as high as No. 5 to the Chiefs.

MIKE TRIPLETT: Hey Andrew. You should definitely be rooting for the Saints to wind up with Leodis McKelvin. He might be the best cover corner available in this year’s draft. And as a bonus, he might be the best return man. He returned six punts and a kickoff for touchdowns while at Troy. … Later in the draft, running back Chris Johnson can absolutely fly, but the Saints don’t really need a speed tailback since they have Reggie Bush.

By the way, Bush could become that return man you’re looking for this year. He was a little dinged up last year, and the Saints needed him to be their every-down tailback, so they didn’t use him to return many kicks. But I think this year more than ever, the Saints want to try and maximize Bush’s value to the fullest.

MIKE TRIPLETT: The “going rate” for Dorsey is extremely high. According to the value chart that teams have been using for years, the Saints would pretty much have to trade their entire draft to move up from No. 10 to No. 2 – or else send this year’s first-round pick, this year’s second and next year’s first. … Think about what the New York Giants paid to move up to No. 1 for Eli Manning a few years back, not to mention what the Saints paid for Ricky Williams.

But that is all starting to change now that teams are becoming more and more reluctant to pay the huge contracts to high draft picks. So the price could be reduced. Maybe a 1^st, 2^nd and 3^rd this year? … The Saints could offer next year’s first-round pick, but the Rams are in win-now mode, so I don’t think they’d be too interested.

MIKE TRIPLETT: Personally, JT, I love the idea. I think Sheppard will be better over the next two years than any cornerback available in the draft, and I think the Saints should be thinking short-term. As long as Drew Brees is in his prime, the Saints are legitimate Super Bowl contenders.

That being said, I’ve found no indication that the Saints have been talking to the Eagles about such a move – other than the fact that the Saints are always one of the most aggressive teams in the draft when it comes to trades.

MIKE TRIPLETT: Hey Kenny. That scenario wouldn’t surprise me too much. I think Ellis is a guy the Saints are targeting, and I think it might cost that much to get there (maybe a little less, a first, a second and a fifth or sixth?) … Is it worth it? Depends on how much you like Ellis. Personally, I know I’m, in the minority on him, but I’m not completely sold after watching him at the Senior Bowl and the combine.

The Saints know a lot more about him than I do, though, especially defensive line coach Ed Orgeron, who recruited him to USC. So if he’s the guy they want, I say go ahead and be aggressive.

The more I read and watch on Rodgers-Cromarties, the more I like him. What are the chances the Saints take him at #10?

MIKE TRIPLETT: I think Rodgers-Cromartie is definitely on the Saints’ radar screen. They love those high-upside, fast, athletic guys, and I wouldn’t be surprised at all if he’s the pick. … But I think they’ll lean toward more of a polished prospect like Ellis, linebacker Keith Rivers or McKelvin. With the 10^th pick, you don’t really want to roll the dice, and Rodgers-Cromartie is still very raw. Even at a small school, he got beat a lot.

                      “I never make blanket statements, but this guy is going to be as good or better than Deion Sanders. This kid can fly. As soon as he learns the game … I’ve never seen anyone break on the ball like

that kid. He’s going to be the steal of the draft, like Devin Hester two years ago.”

MIKE TRIPLETT: Not really, Chuck. I know some people have been speculating that Will Smith might get dealt since he’s only got one year left on his deal. But the team has a good relationship with him,  they NEED him on this defense,  and he hasn’t been demanding a trade like Kansas City’s Jared Allen was. … I don’t think they want to give up Roman Harper in that Shockey deal, either.

MIKE TRIPLETT: I doubt it, Barry. Maybe if Deuce McAllister had a setback in his recovery, that would make some sense. But Alexander has really been tailing off the last couple years, and there’s no guarantee he’s gonna be any better than Deuce this year. … I think if they’re worried about their running back depth, they’ll address it in the draft, with someone who can replace Deuce in the future.

MIKE TRIPLETT: I’ve been wondering the same thing in the back of my mind, Fred. I think more than anything the Saints need to get more athletic and explosive on defense, and DE Vernon Gholston would do exactly that. … Yeah, they already have three defensive ends, but they would find a place for him in pass-rushing situations.

I think Dorsey and Ellis are the guys they’re targeting, but Gholston or even Chris Long wouldn’t surprise me.

MIKE TRIPLETT: I think we’ll find out this weekend. … Normally this Saints regime goes into super-secret shut-down mode, and they don’t offer any hints about any of their plans – true or false. The fact that this talk about trading up is so out in the open has me very skeptical.

MIKE TRIPLETT: I think so … but then again, I thought they’d be pretty good last year. I think the Saints have a lot of the most important pieces in place – starting with quarterback Drew Brees. If they can be just a little better in the running game and a little better on defense, they should win the NFC South. … I think Jonathan Vilma will be a huge addition on defense. And I also think they’ll get a lot more out of Reggie Bush this year.

MIKE TRIPLETT: I’ve got a super-sleeper for you, Al. How about running back Jamar Brittingham from Bloomsburg? The Saints already plucked Jahri Evans out of there two years ago, so why not try again with the power runner who ran for nearly 6,000 yards in college.

MIKE TRIPLETT: Hey Chris. I think the Saints have a pretty good group, in general. The competition between Henderson and Robert Meachem for the No. 3 receiver job should produce a worthy winner. Then after that, Lance Moore and Terrance Copper both bring value on special teams – the most important attribute for No. 4 and 5 receivers. … I don’t think this position is a big weakness for the Saints. And remember, Reggie Bush practically counts as a receiver. He’s almost like a Steve Smith type at times.

That first question cracks me up, by the way. It’s amazing how many of these questions we get in these chats about trading our underachievers for better players. … I’m guessing the Cardinals would pass on that one. But, yes, Boldin would be a significant upgrade for this receiving corps.

MIKE TRIPLETT: We get a few questions about the safeties every week. … I agree that they don’t have any Pro Bowlers back there, and if one of the top safeties is available in Round 2, the Saints should be tempted. They’re looking for the best defensive playmakers available at any and all positions.

But I don’t think Harper, Bullocks and Kaesviharn is a horrible group. I think all of them will be helped if the Saints can get more athletic in the front seven and start putting more consistent pressure on quarterbacks.

MIKE TRIPLETT: Hey Don, I fully expect the Saints to get something worked out with Will Smith at some point. He wants to stay, they want him to stay, and they can afford him. … If anything, I think this Allen deal will help speed the process along because it helps set the market. Smith should get a deal that falls somewhere in between Allen’s deal (five years. $75 million) and Charles Grant’s deal last year (seven years, up to a maximum of $63 million). (forgive me if I'm wrong on those numbers. I'm going off the top of my head).

MIKE TRIPLETT: Hey Corey, if you’re a regular reader of these chats, you know my answer already. I expect big things from Reggie Bush. He was a big disappointment last year, but I think he’s more motivated after dealing with failure for the first time. … I just can’t get over how good he looked over the second half of his rookie season. He’s a rare athlete. The Saints just need to figure out the best way to use him.