The New Orleans Saints finished last in the NFC South with a 6-11 record, but with the emergence of Tyler Shough, the fans and franchise are not in panic mode.
Longtime executive vice president and general manager Mickey Loomis will have valuable draft picks to capitalize on the growth of last season and take the team to a higher level.
Saints Draft Picks:
- Round 1: Pick 8
- Round 2: Pick 42
- Round 3: Pick 73
- Round 4: Pick 132 – from Seahawks
- Round 4: Pick 136
- Round 5: Pick 150
- Round 5: Pick 172 – from Seahawks
- Round 6: Pick 190
Saints Positions of Need:
The Saints have a lot to build on after last year, but they also have plenty of needs to address still. They cannot accomplish it all in one draft, but they can get off to a great start in a few key areas.
- EDGE
- WR
- CB
Key Draft Targets for the Saints:
Mansoor Delane – CB – LSU
The fate of the Saints at the eighth pick is ultimately less about a plan and more about reacting to the other seven teams above them as they make their decisions. This pick could go anywhere from Reuben Bain to Caleb Downs or even Carnell Tate. All would be good picks for the team. Delane is the only one of the four who is almost a guarantee to be available at eight, and he is a lockdown corner.
Dalane is everything a team wants to see from a corner prospect: willing and involved in the run game, the most natural coverage corner in the class, runs a 4.4 40-yard dash, is rarely penalized, and has fluid hips with great technique.
Even if one of those other three aforementioned options is available, the only one the Saints should consider is Caleb Downs.
Omar Cooper – WR – Indiana
With Chris Olave out wide, the Saints do not need another X or wide receiver; instead, drafting Omar Cooper provides a lethal slot to open the offense. He is perfect for the screen game, possesses rare YAC and after-contact ability, and has a knack for fitting into tight windows that Shough can take advantage of.
Cooper has been rising on draft boards ever since Indiana’s CFP run. If he’s available at No. 42, Cooper would be a great pick for the Saints.
Romello Height – EDGE – Texas Tech
The third round is the perfect time to find an under-the-radar edge that will help newly acquired Mansoor Delane in coverage. The Saints need a day-one pass rusher in this draft, and Romello Height provides just that.
There are concerns with his run support, but Height generates pressure and sacks at an elite rate. He owns a great repertoire of pass-rush moves and genuine coverage skills, which could help him contribute beyond just pass-rush snaps. Height should be available for New Orleans when the time comes for their third selection.
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