Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
By Ross Jackson
While the tides appear to be turning toward defense in the first round of this year’s NFL Draft for the New Orleans Saints, there are no guarantees that their top defensive targets will be available at No. 8 overall.
However, should New Orleans lose its chance to land one of the class’s best edge rushers or even its top cornerback, drafting to build around young quarterback Tyler Shough is far more than a conciliation prize.
As the Saints prepare to host Ohio State wide receiver Carnell Tate this week, he serves as a reminder that investing in the offensive side of the ball is just as impactful and promising as bringing in one of the draft’s key defensive contributors.
It’s not a farfetched idea that the trio of top edge rushers in this year’s class, Miami’s Rueben Bain Jr., Ohio State’s Arvell Reese and David Bailey of Texas Tech, could all be off the board by the time the Saints’ selection at No. 8.
While it’s a less than ideal situation, it’s far from a worst-case scenario for New Orleans.
The Saints could still invest in a defender like LSU cornerback Mansoor Delane but could also begin immediately building around Shough by taking a top wide receiver instead.
Tate, along with Arizona State wideout Jordyn Tyson and USC’s Makai Lemon, would add a lot of potential to the Saints’ offensive attack.
Each brings their own benefits from Tate’s contested catch and deep threat ability to Tyson’s all-around play and Lemon’s impact from the slot; the Saints could benefit from an early selection of either option.
A focus on Shough, who has a lot of promise ahead of him, and continuing to add weapons around him is a promising draft strategy. The Saints did well to aid themselves on offense during free agency, but the opportunities remain abundant in the draft to keep pursuing more talent and playmakers on that side of the ball.
While mock drafts and analysts start to lean defense, offense remains a successful path for the Saints in the first round
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