It’s that time of the year again. The NFL Draft is now a little over a month away, and the New Orleans Saints are looking to bring in some players right away for impact. Most importantly, every move has to be exact. Especially, in the first three rounds. As a result, the Saints find a trading partner. The Green Bay Packers have 10 draft picks in total. Two of those picks fall in the first round at pick #12 and #30.
Also, the Packers are looking for a receiver after longtime Packer Randall Cobb signed with the Cowboys. So the Saints decide to add a second pick and trade wide receiver Tre’Quan Smith. Smith has value, and the Saints have to make a move to gather another pick. Also, the Saints have to give up a fourth-round pick in 2020. But don’t be alarmed Who Dat Nation. The Saints have an eye for a certain player in the draft and moving up can cement this trade. So the Saints are on the clock for the second round. The Saints get the 44th pick in the second round from Green Bay and pick…
New Orleans Saints Mock Draft 1.0
Pick #44: Wide Receiver N’Keal Harry, Arizona State
N’Keal Harry is a freak. Harry stands at 6-foot-4 and weighs 225 lbs. He catches just about everything that comes his way. Harry had 213 catches in his first three seasons for 2,889 yards and 22 touchdowns show a bit of his worth.
Vertically Harry is unstoppable. He tracks the ball like a radar. There is no such thing as a 50-50 ball with N’Keal Harry. Harry may not be blazing fast but it doesn’t matter. Anything thrown his way is his. Oh yeah, he can return punts too. This addition makes the Saints unstoppable. Sean Payton is going to be salivating all year.
Pick #62: OL Chris Lindstrom, Boston College.
Surely, this pick is going to be a hard sell to Who Dat Nation. Chris Lindstrom has made 49 straight starts at Boston College. His stock was sitting around the third round before the combine. Be that as it may, his 40-yard dash shocked a lot of people. All 32 teams showed up on his Pro Day as well. Lindstrom ran the 40-yard dash in 4.91 seconds. That was second for offensive linemen.
Lindstrom is flexible playing either guard or tackle. He’s got good hands and is quick to the second level of blocking. The Saints need someone just in case, to come in immediately as Ryan Ramczyk did. If the Saints can land Lindstrom, the offensive line is beyond perfect for years to come. The only challenge is having him slide down this much. Regardless, this guy is a perfect fit.
Fifth Round: Mike Bell, Fresno State
After two picks on the offensive side, the Saints finally add a piece to their defense. Safety Mike Bell could be a steal. Bell is a guy that can smack you hard and cover like a blanket. He takes some sharp angles to play the ball and has terrific reaction skills. Bell has eight pass breakups last year and three interceptions as a redshirt junior. Also, he made huge improvements from year one with 35 tackles to 86 in 2018.
Always looking to sniff out a play. Great size at 6-foot-2 and weighing 205 lbs. Not the most outlandish freakish athletic talent, but he has enough consistency to disrupt plays. Love the physicality.
Sixth Round: DL Chris Slayton
This is one of my favorite picks late if Chris Slayton can drop this far. Slayton did meet with the New Orleans Saints on his Pro Day too. The so-called draft experts have Slayton going anywhere from the third to sixth round. Draft expert Walter Campbell believes Slayton is the real deal. “Speed, leverage, and strength to consistently get the better of the offensive lineman”, Campbell said.
Slayton has incredible strength. Coach Dino Babers raved about Clayton. “That guy is going to be playing a lot of football for a long time.” He had 24 tackles in 2019 with eight for a loss. Moreover, he posted 3.5 sacks, six quarterback hurries, and a forced fumble. Slayton was the “jack of all trades” at Syracuse. He could shock some people in the NFL.
Seventh Round: RB Trayveon Williams, Texas A&M
Who is Trayveon Williams? He ran for 1,760 yards in 2019 with a 6.5 yards-per-carry. Oh yeah, add 27 receptions for 278 yards with 19 touchdowns last year. In total, he’s responsible for 34 touchdowns since 2016 wearing the Aggie uniform. He stands at 5-foot-9 and weighing 205 lbs. Williams runs north and south. But don’t be fooled, he can take it to the house if given the opportunity. Don’t sleep on Trayveon Williams.
Seventh Round: QB Brad Mayes From Lehigh
Who? Don’t even bother trying to find this name in any NFL Draft magazine or prospect ranking. Brad Mayes is a long shot to get drafted for sure. So don’t expect to hear his name called most likely. But Mayes is an under-the-radar prospect that has the stomach to give it a go on the next level.
He’s got a pretty decent arm, especially at the level of Lehigh. He stands at 6-foot-2 and weighs 220 pounds. Word on the streets is that the kid can sling it. Someone needs to give this kid a chance. It’s worth the late round sleeper pick. The Saints should try and draft a quarterback to sit and learn. After the top four or five go, it’s anyone’s guess as to who can contribute on the next level.
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