While players like LSU offensive tackle Will Campbell (who was not on the board in this simulation) and Penn State tight end Tyler Warren would be tempting here, Barron is the pick because of his versatile nature in defense, ball hawking ability and leadership acumen.
He is connected to the Saints’ staff thanks to the key offseason hire of former Longhorns defensive pass game coordinator and secondary coach Terry Joseph. Joseph, a New Orleans native, coached Barron all three years in Austin. The two have a mutual respect for one another, with Barron celebrating Joseph’s hire in New Orleans on social media.
Barron has five-position versatility in the secondary, but could be a day one starter at outside corner for the Saints. That would allow second-year cornerback Kool-Aid McKinstry to man the other side, while slot corner Alontae Taylor moves back inside. Then the team would have quality depth with Isaac Yiadom and Rico Payton.
Jahdae Barron in 2024:
🤘 90.8 PFF grade (1st among CBs)
🤘 33.1 passer rating allowed
🤘 Most Valuable non-QB, per PFF WAA pic.twitter.com/PBur29maLq— PFF (@PFF) March 28, 2025
2024 Stats
Tight end is one of the areas of the roster that New Orleans shouldn’t leave the draft without addressing. Two of the position’s biggest names are coming off of serious injuries while entering a contract year. The future at tight end is worth investing in now.
New head coach Kellen Moore’s offenses have often looked to maximize tight ends, so adding talent there could provide some benefit. Taylor is an all-around type of player that’s a reliable blocker along with being an effective route-runner and pass-catcher. That type of versatility would be a welcome addition.
Taylor has been connected to the Saint a lot this offseason. They saw him at both the Senior Bowl and Combine while also visiting with him during his pro day. Then, they invited him to their local pro day, held at the team facility. New Orleans has been doing its homework and some extra credit in the tight end.
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
The Saints had a habit of investing in developing height/weight/speed defensive ends in the first round for a time. In the case of former Saint Marcus Davenport, they invested multiple first round picks, for instance. Now, in this year’s class, there’s a promising version of those players as a potential second-day investment in Burch.
The young pass rusher has the NFL size to move around in a defensive line in a multi-front scheme like what New Orleans is expected to deploy under new defensive coordinator Brandon Staley. He also has the speed to get around the edge and win with his athleticism rather than relying on power.
He would likely take some development, but Burch has good, sound tolls to build on without having to make an expensive investment. With defensive ends Chase Young, Carl Granderson, and Cameron Jordan still set to lead the way at the position, he would get time before being relied upon as a go-to edge defender.
There’s not much connection with the Saints here, so this pick was made as the best player available on the board at a position worth addressing.
When the Saints visited Georgia’s pro day, they hosted a dinner with several of the program’s players. It’s hard to believe that the three outstanding interior offensive linemen, Ratledge, Jared Wilson, and Dylan’s Fairchild weren’t a part of that meal. They each could be helpful as the Saints look to build out their offensive line after an injury-riddled season in the interior in 2024.
Ratledge is a great get here, but Wilson could have been taken at the spot, as well. Wilson offers center versatility on the inside.
But Ratledge is the athletic big man that every program loves. He moves well, attacks strong, and has a healthy amount of playing experience. He could join New Orleans and immediately compete with free agency acquisition Dillon Radunz to start at left guard or could provide quality depth while waiting to step into a larger role soon after. Ratledge should be a starter at the next level during his rookie contract.
Blue’s measurables might not stand out, but his speed from the backfield and ability to run routes are elements of his game that separate him from other running back prospects. The Saints may be beyond searching for a complement to star back Alvin Kamara and may instead be in the business of preparing for life after him.
The dynamic speedster out of Austin would complete a very fun duo of backs. One that will need additional contributions from rushers like Kenner Miller, who should look a lot more comfortable in Moore’s scheme than in former offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak’s. Moore will mix in a lot more inside runs and man schemes while Kubiak lived and died by the outside zone run.
Joseph is again the connecting factor here. While he didn’t coach Blue directly, he coached a Longhorns defense that practiced against him every week. So, he’s aware of the talent that the back could bring to the Big East. Blue also only has 314 career collegiate carries, giving him plenty of tread left in the tires. That’s something the Saints have proven to love about the backs they’ve drafted in the recent past.
Continuing to add to the defensive trenches makes sense for New Orleans. They have effectively brought back their line from last season, swapping out end Payton Turner and versatile lineman Tanoh Kpassagnon with tackles Daven Godchaux and Jonah Williams. But adding another interior depth piece couldn’t hurt.
Mills doesn’t have an obvious connection to the Saints, but the team has dipped into the Notre Dame draft pool often in recent years. At a position that is likely to continue to see attention and coming in as a five-year Notre Dame player, Mills makes sense.
He provides solid depth immediately, though he may be asked to bulk up a bit and add weight in the pros. At 6-foot-5, he certainly has the frame to do it. Mills has been a quality pass rusher and sure tackler in the run game (only one missed tackle in 2024). He plays with a lot of effort and could slot in at 3-4 end, as well as contribute as a tackle in even fronts.
Mills suffered a knee injury in the college football playoff that has kept him from participating in drills and workouts in the draft process. But the play on tape is promising. Team medical checks will be integral to his draft stock.
Every Rylie Mills sack (17.0) 👀💪
The best of @ryliemills99 ➡️ https://t.co/tBCRILE4Eh#GoIrish☘️ pic.twitter.com/kdxRT6F6c5
— Notre Dame Football (@NDFootball) March 21, 2025
Mills was not able to participate in offseason draft workouts.
McCord was hoping to raise his stock transferring from Ohio State to Syracuse and he’s done it. He had a remarkable 2024 season, sans a forgettable five-interception performance against Pitt. He is one of the later-round quarterbacks that’s made me change my tune around the class of passers in this draft. It’s likely he goes off the board earlier than this, but we work with what the simulation gives us. Whether in the fourth, fifth, or sixth round, the value is there. A late day two selection could be in his future, however.
The Syracuse gunslinger did a private throwing session with Saints quarterback back coach Scott Tolzein after his pro day. New Orleans has been all-in on quarterback evaluations this offseason.
McCord is a more traditional pocket passer with stellar field vision and a pro-ready arm. His decision-making will have to make some progress, but because he would likely not see the field until 2026 in this scenario, if at all, he should have the time to work on that with a staff of former quarterbacks waiting on Airline Drive to develop a young signal caller. He’d have to beat out Spencer Rattler for that opportunity.
The highlight of the day was Kyle McCord’s throwing session with the offense. First a great sideline ball to Oronde Gadsden.@NunesMagician pic.twitter.com/LxY1TkGX5C
— Christian De Guzman (@CTDeGuz) March 17, 2025
McCord was not able to participate in offseason draft workouts.
There’s been no formal contact reported between the Saints and Armstrong, but Sportskeeda’s Tony Pauline reported that New Orleans was trying to get the wideout in for a visit before the draft. That’s not surprising either. A 6-foot-3, 200-plus pound receiver with a 63.1% contested catch percentage in 2025 certainly has his place if he makes the transition from college to the pros smoothly. The Saints were present at Armstrong’s pro day where he reportedly improved his 4.51 40-yard-dash time at the combine to an eyepopping 4.37 seconds.
New Orleans has already invested in quite a bit of speed at wideout, and certainly could go for more in this year’s draft. But at this spot, late in the selection process, a potential red zone threat and outstanding run blocker at very least are worth a roll of the dice.
Andrew Armstrong (bottom of screen) doesn’t have a ton of hype in this WR class, but he’s big—6’4″ and 202 pounds—has strong hands, moves well for his size, and routinely finds space. https://t.co/TkqNGi4tV1 pic.twitter.com/zvoLDMy2EB
— Daniel Harms (@InHarmsWay19) March 12, 2025
New Orleans can use some linebacker depth, but they may be better off pursuing that through the late phases of free agency in order to build a middle-class of experience at the position. The Saints had Martin in for a top-30 visit during the draft process. While that does not mean that the team looks at him as a top-30 candidate, it certainly indicates interest.
My guess is that the team wanted to get a medical check on Martin, since he missed the latter portion of the 2024 season with a knee injury, shortening his 2024 to just five games. He filled his stat sheet during the previous season. It seems likely as well that teams will look to see if the linebacker could transition to another position like safety. New Orleans did this last year with undrafted linebacker Isaiah Stalbird. Martin’s slight frame makes him a prime candidate for this kind of position change.
Immediately, regardless of his position designation, his value on special teams should be eye-catching. He has great speed and is a reliable tackler, as well. As a smart player with four years of experience at Oklahoma State, there are a lot of reasons to consider him at this area of the NFL Draft.
Thoroughly impressed with Oklahoma State LB Nick Martin (4).
Electric athlete, elite closing speed, a ballplayer that deserves consideration as one of the country’s premier LBs.
Not many defenders at any level that can chase down Xavier Worthy. 140 tkls last fall. pic.twitter.com/8uUKEgy3eF
— Ryan Fowler (@_RyanFowler_) July 12, 2024
