Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
By Ross Jackson
The NFL Draft is never without its unexpected twists and turns. While predicting the exact selections is far from a perfect science, getting a feel for which prospects may be available at the time a team selects can at least provide some guidance and understanding of where a team could choose to invest.
This year, the New Orleans Saints will select No. 8 overall, putting them in good position to land a difference maker in the first round and beyond. But guessing exactly who will be on the board is a fool’s errand. There are seven teams drafting ahead of the Saints with a number of trade rumors circulating. Not only is it a challenge, especially in this year’s draft, to pin down team and prospect matches, knowing who will even make the picks ahead of New Orleans is uncertain.
By diving into a slew of different mock drafts, there seems to be at least a consensus around some of the players that could be available for the Saints in the first round.
- Miami EDGE Rueben Bain Jr.
- Arizona State WR Jordyn Tyson
- Ohio State WR Carnell Tate
- Ohio State S Caleb Downs
- LSU CB Mansoor Delane
Among them, the Saints could have three or four of the aforementioned names available when they are on the clock. The group offers the team a chance to continue building its defense or build around quarterback Tyler Shough on the offensive side.
There aren’t many wrong directions to go here. Helping out the secondary in defensive coordinator Brandon Staley’s system is always a good option. Increasing pressure on opposing quarterbacks is every NFL team’s draft in the early goings of the draft. Adding another offensive playmaker to a team that could certainly use more is also a winning move.
New Orleans remain situated in a strong position going into this year’s NFL Draft.
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