The season has not yet begun, but of course mock draft season is always under way. The staff at 33rd Team did a new mock this week which has the New Orleans Saints draft much earlier than most anticipate and therefore landing a top tackle prospect in the 2025 NFL draft.
Kyle Crabbs, 33rd Team’s NFL Draft Lead and host of Locked On NFL Scouting conducted the mock wherein the Saints would select No. 3 overall. What a blow that would be to the hopes of the organization and fans who want to see the team end their three-year playoff drought.
The good news about a top three pick is that the world is effectively the team’s oyster. If they wanted to move on at quarterback, they are in position to snag a ready-made starter. Though many believe the team should give 2024 drafted quarterback Spencer Rattler his shot first. Otherwise they could look to bolster skill position talent or beef up the trenches.
Crabbs has them addressing the offensive line. In what would be the third first-round offensive tackle taken in four seasons, this simulation has the Saints selecting Texas tackle Kelvin Banks Jr.
“OT Ryan Ramczyk’s loss is a big one,” Crabbs writes. “There’s a ton of pressure riding on a pair of young tackles in rookie Taliese Fuaga and third-year player Trevor Penning. Add in concerns in several spots and an underwhelming debut season for Derek Carr, and I just don’t know what to make of the Saints.”
While this selection would be a big-time admission of a miss when it comes to Penning, Crabbs is on to something here. It is very much like the Saints to continuously try to build their trenches before all else. That has long been a part of New Orleans’ modus operandi when it comes to the annual selection process.
At 6-foot-4 and 320 lbs., Banks would be the shortest offensive tackle the Saints have ever drafted in the first round. Banks Jr. may end up being subject to the annual “switch to guard” conversations tackle of his size are typically subjected to during the draft process. Perhaps making him not necessarily the best fit for New Orleans, based on their draft trenches and tendencies.
LSU offensive tackle Will Campbell went off the board to the New England Patriots one pick prior. However, with Colorado prospects wideout/cornerback Travis Hunter and quarterback Shedeur Sanders still on the board along with Arizona’s outstanding wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan, it would not be a shock to see the Saints pivot away from the offensive line in this scenario.
With the No. 35 overall selection at the top of the second round, circling back to the offensive line seems like a likely and reasonable option. The team could go best player available at No. 3 and still very much continue to bolster their protection unit – which is likely to still be a need when the draft rolls around – at the top of Day 2.
