With the NFL Draft just hours away, the New Orleans Saints have the opportunity the get back on the right track after a 7-10 campaign in 2022.
The draft is a weekend where teams can either make the greatest decisions in franchise history or things can blow up in smoke.
These are just some of the things that I think happen tonight in New York City:
Saints trade out of No. 29
New Orleans has traded up 24 times since 2007, and I wouldn’t be even a little surprised if they make it 25 tonight. Mickey Loomis has a guy in mind and they’re going to do what it takes to get him. I could get them going to the mid-teens, but I think it’s more realistic to see the Saints in the early 20s.
The first-round pick will be a defensive player
I have come to the realization that the Saints’ first-round selection will play on the defensive side of the football. Whether it’s a defensive lineman, edge rusher, or maybe even a linebacker, the Saints need to bolster that side of the ball. They’re very high on Myles Murphy and Bryan Breesee out of Clemson.
However, I’m a huge Lukas Van Ness fan. For a guy that never started a game after making the switch to edge rusher, I love the numbers that he was able to put together at Iowa. Also, his versatility to play either edge rusher or on the interior makes him very valuable to New Orleans.
Five quarterbacks will be taken in the first round
This isn’t Saints related but with the draft in general. Of the 31 picks in the first round, five of them will be quarterbacks. Bryce Young will be the first overall pick, CJ Stroud will go either second or fourth, Anthony Richardson will more than likely go seventh to Las Vegas, and Will Levis could fit in with Tennessee at 11.
The one wild card pick comes later in the first round. I wouldn’t be surprised if somebody decided to “reach” for Hendon Hooker in the first round. Minnesota could be looking to move on from Kirk Cousins after 2023, Seattle could potentially take him as high as 20, and if the Ravens can’t get a deal done with Lamar Jackson, I could see them taking a flyer on a quarterback as well.
The NFL Draft is always full of drama and excitement, but it’s also a perfect opportunity for a team to get back to their winning ways.
Let’s see if Mickey Loomis can Kevin Costner this thing, shall we?
