Perhaps more than any other franchise in the league, Saints fans should be interested in every mock draft they can see. While the team will inevitably dig their way out of their current salary cap hell, they probably won’t have the resources to go after the big-name free agents. They also probably aren’t going to rebuild, as they’re stuck with Derek Carr for at least one more year and Dennis Allen might not come back in 2025 if the team doesn’t make the playoffs.
With no other path for improvement, New Orleans will have to hit it out of the park in the 2024 NFL Draft. Fortunately, in Mike Kashuba’s latest mock draft, the Saints pick up a player at a much-needed position who should be able to contribute right away. He may not fix the offense, but Florida State edge defender Jared Verse has a chance to be the best pass rusher in this class.
Saints Stay Put, Select Game-Changing Pass Rusher In Mock Draft
Jared Verse the Prospect
There isn’t a Will Anderson or Myles Garrett in this class, which is why the Saints can get arguably the best pass rusher in the NFL Draft with the 14th overall pick. However, even though he’s not an elite prospect, Jared Verse still has 10-sack potential in the pros.
The best thing about Verse is his ability to get after the quarterback. The Florida State product looks like he’s shot out of a cannon at the snap, quickly building up to full strength with the speed to wrap around opposing tackles. Even when linemen can match his footwork, he has the strength to win with muscle, push his man around, and still get after the quarterback.
“That’s a misdemeanor in some states.”
—Television announcer on Jared Verse vs. Louisville
2024 #NFL Draft pic.twitter.com/2YEshlm3Db
— FIRST ROUND MOCK (@firstroundmock) February 11, 2024
This ideal combination of strength and speed gives him the potential to be an elite player against both the run and the pass, but he’s not quite there yet. As is the case with many young players, he can be too aggressive and overpursue running plays. Additionally, sometimes he trusts his speed too much and gets too wide in his rushes, freeing up space for the opposing quarterback to step up and make a throw.
Ultimately, these concerns are just nitpicks. There is no such thing as a perfect football player, and while Jared Verse isn’t an elite athlete or prospect, he should be a very good NFL player, at the very least. But, just because he’s good doesn’t mean he’s a good fit for every team. Let’s take a look at the Saints current roster and see if this mock draft makes sense.
Does This Saints Mock Draft Make Sense?
The Saints could go in a lot of different directions during the actual NFL Draft, but this mock draft passes the sniff test. New Orleans lost a lot of talent along the defensive line last year, and they trusted Bryan Bresee and Isaiah Foskey to replace those departed veterans. While it’s too early to completely give up on either player, adding someone like Jared Verse will give the team some much-needed security along the defensive front.
Of course, there is a question as to whether or not the Saints should draft an offensive tackle in the mock draft. Derek Carr does not handle pressure well, and former first-round pick Trevor Penning is looking like a bust. Someone like Taliese Fuaga might provide more immediate support, but it’s hard to argue against a player as good as Verse.
Main Photo: Jim Dedmon – USA Today Sports
