Five early third round candidates for Saints (and five more wild cards)
04/10/2025
By Ross Jackson
This year’s NFL draft is expected to provide starters to many teams through several rounds. That means a team like the New Orleans Saints, which has several draft needs, could land impact players through the middle rounds of the draft.
Rounds two and three of this year’s selection process provide the Saints three more selections in the top-100, which follow a top-10 selection in the first. This is a great position to be in with this year’s class.
Starting with the first selection New Orleans holds in the third round (No. 71), here’s a look at some of the players that could be available.
Ole Miss WR Tre Harris
If the Saints don’t land a big-bodied wide receiver in the first two rounds, there are more options throughout the draft. One of the best mid-round options is Harris. The 6-foot-2, 205-pound wideout is a physical pass-catcher with some explosive traits that allow him to go up for high point passes. He’s a true contested catch threat with the attitude that the ball is always his.
Harris ran a 4.54-second 40, which isn’t the fastest time that’ll jump off the page at anyone. But his playstyle is that of a physical playmaker, which doesn’t necessarily require track speed.
Tre Harris Ranked 1st in the NATION in Receiving Yards Per Game (128.8)..
Before his injury Vs. LSU he was Averaging:
➖10.4 Targets (6th in CFB)
➖8.4 Receptions (2nd in CFB)
➖1.0 Receiving TD’s (3rd in CFB)Dudes 6’2, 205 lbs and was ALSO 1st in Yards Per Route Run.. (5.12) pic.twitter.com/JKbPbDI6wT
— Austin Abbott (@AustinAbbottFF) March 21, 2025
Tennessee RB Dylan Sampson
Sampson, the 20-year-old big play waiting to happen, has a great ability to pick up yards after first contact. That alone should immediately put him on the Saints’ radar. Sampson averaged 3.64 yards after contact over his three years in Tennessee. Saints star running back Alvin Kamara hasn’t broken a three-yard average since 2019. It’s all different at the NFL level, but if Sampson was able to add that element to the Saints’ backfield, he’d be a major addition to the running back committee.
I’ve tweeted about Dylan Sampson for a bit now
Just a reminder that he’s the steal of this draft class pic.twitter.com/6i4zpoU80v
— David Mendelson (@DMendy02) April 7, 2025
LSU TE Mason Taylor
No home cooking here: Taylor is simply one of the best options at his position this year. After an impressive showing at his LSU pro day, the LSU Tiger could leap into the second round without much shock. But right now, this is still considered a realistic range for him.
A true do-it-all option, Taylor could give the Saints another tight end to turn to quickly if incumbent tight ends Foster Moreau and Taysom Hill are unavailable to start 2025 due to late-season injuries last year. He could then become a big part of the future at the position with both of those veteran players also on contract years in 2024.
I like Mason Taylor as a flex TE a fair bit. Good fluidity for his size and understands how to run routes to create separation. Makes some nice out-of-frame catches, too.
Reminds me of Tyler Higbee. https://t.co/6defjOhEsc pic.twitter.com/w2cWmNkq8K
— Benjamin Solak (@BenjaminSolak) March 26, 2025
Indiana DT CJ West
One of the defensive tackles that deserves to be talked about more in this year’s class, West has real potential to have an early-career impact in the NFL.
A productive run defender in college, West also flashed impressively as a pass rusher. He had 40 combined tackles last year with eight for a loss after making the leap from the MAC to the Big Ten.
Major green flag I look for is refined football players with high RAS grades. Crazy, I know.
Indiana DT C.J. West is a sturdy, spatially aware defender with great hands who excels against the run. Elite testing at 9.14 RAS. My dream for #Bears in Round 3. pic.twitter.com/b2dd91n59B
— Jacob Infante (@jacobinfante24) March 21, 2025
Michigan EDGE Josaiah Stewart
An athletic speed rusher should be on the Saints’ radar this offseason. A player like Stewart absolutely checks that box. He could come into New Orleans as a pass rush specialist, adding to the rotation of defensive ends Chase Young, Carl Granderson and Cameron Jordan.
Stewart piled on 8.5 sacks and 13 tackles for a loss in 2024 with Michigan, but his career numbers are the real standouts. He totaled a whopping 48 career tackles for a loss and 30 career sacks between his time with Michigan and Kent State. He may be small in stature, but he plays much bigger.
Josiah Stewart long arms his way past Ersery for a sack pic.twitter.com/FOCdHXzHpO
— Billy M (@BillyM_91) March 16, 2025