The 2023 NFL Draft is officially one day away, which means it’s time for one last Saints mock draft. The organization saw a bunch of familiar faces leave in free agency, but fortunately, they have eight opportunities to bring in some more talent and lock up a weak NFC South.
Note that this exercise was performed using the Pro Football Network Mock Draft Simulator. If the player was on the board when the Saints were on the clock, they were fair game. Also note that this Saints mock draft does not include trades.
Final Seven-Round New Orleans Saints Mock Draft
First Round (29th Overall): Calijah Kancey, DT
The New Orleans Saints kick off this mock draft by getting the safest interior pass rusher in the entire class. Calijah Kancey is a little undersized for a defensive tackle, but that smaller build is actually a blessing because it gives him the quickness and agility to blow past interior linemen and take down the quarterback. He is also disproportionately strong and can hold his own against double teams in the run game. In many ways, he’s a poor man’s Aaron Donald, and who wouldn’t want someone like that on their team?
Calijah Kancey NFL Draft Profile
Finished up the Calijah Kancey:
I have no idea how he isn’t a consensus top 10 pick. If you run a 4-3 front, you should WANT him on your team.
His hand usage is out of this world. The bag is deep. Club/swim, rips, cross/chop. Stacks moves, with a nasty spin to the inside. pic.twitter.com/fbqv2LcyhP
— Luke Grant (@LukeGrant7) April 18, 2023
Second Round (40th Overall): Darnell Washington, TE
The 2023 NFL Draft class is loaded with talent at tight end, and depending on who you ask, Darnell Washington might end up being the best of the bunch. Washington easily has the highest ceiling, as he’s an athletic freak that can destroy worlds as both a blocker and a receiver. While he didn’t see too many targets in college, he was one of the most efficient players on a per-touch basis. If the Saints build their passing attack around him, he could easily be one of the best tight ends in the league in a couple of years.
Darnell Washington NFL Draft Profile
Third Round (71st Overall): Cody Mauch, OT
The Saints could use an insurance policy at tackle, and Cody Mauch provides that value in this mock draft. Ryan Ramczyk is still one of the best in the league at his position, but nobody knows if 2022 first-round pick Trevor Penning can handle a starting job. While it’s too early to give up on him, the Saints should invest in a tackle that could start if Penning doesn’t improve. Mauch could fill in at tackle in a heartbeat, but he has versatility all over the offensive line and could move inside if Penning is up for the task.
Fourth Round (115th Overall): Roschon Johnson, RB
The Saints need to find a replacement for Alvin Kamara, and this mock draft addresses that need with Roschon Johnson. The Texas product didn’t see the field too much in college, but you can’t blame a guy for not being able to beat out Bijan Robinson. With Kamara likely to face a suspension and getting up there in years, Johnson could finally earn a long-overdue starting job. While he’ll probably split snaps with Jamaal Williams in 2023, his hard-nosed rushing style and ability as a pass blocker will give him the opportunity to earn a three-down workload later on in his career.
Roschon Johnson NFL Draft Profile
Fifth Round (146th Overall): Dontayvion Wicks, WR
The Saints have a great young receiver in Chris Olave, and this mock draft adds another toolsy playmaker that could develop into something special. Dontayvion Wicks is very, very raw, so he won’t be ready to contribute in 2023, but he has the speed you can’t teach and could develop into a reliable deep threat with the right coaching.
Dontayvion Wicks NFL Draft Profile
Dontayvion Wicks has a chance to be a steal. Production and flashes were apparent in 2021, but had some adjustment issues with the new offense in 2022. pic.twitter.com/KEcBjvNzUS
— Billy M (@BillyM_91) April 23, 2023
Fifth Round (165th Overall): Moro Ojomo, DT
This Saints mock draft has the team continue to fix their defensive line on Day 3. While first-round pick Calijah Kancey is at his best against the pass, Moro Ojomo is a classic throwback space-eater that is simply immovable in the trenches. He can clog up run lanes and should be useful in short-yardage and goal-line situations, although his lack of pass-rushing prowess means he probably won’t ever be a full-time starter.
Seventh Round (227th Overall): Anfernee Orji, LB
Anfernee Orji has the fire and heart you love to see in a linebacker, but he lacks the instincts to justify such an aggressive style of play. When he guesses wrong, bad things happen, and he can overpursue plays. If the Saints coaching staff can teach him to control his aggression, then he could become a steal in this mock draft. Even if they can’t, his physicality and guns-blazing approach should make him a staple on special teams.
Seventh Round (257th Overall): Charlie Thomas, LB
This Saints mock draft wraps up with yet another linebacker selection. Charlie Thomas is a more controlled player than Anfernee Orji, but his lack of size means that he struggles to shed blocks when offensive linemen get their hands on him. However, he has a nose for the football and excels at sniffing out plays. This type of football IQ justifies a late-round selection, and perhaps he can turn into a solid rotational linebacker.
