Just about every Saints mock draft has the team selecting an offensive tackle with their first-round pick. This makes sense, as Trevor Penning looks like a bust and Ryan Ramczyk may or may not be able to suit up in 2024. However, that’s only one pick. A successful draft involves finding talented players throughout all three days of the event. New Orleans currently has nine pick in the upcoming draft, and they’ll need to make the most of them if they want to win the NFC South for the first time in the post-Drew Brees Era.
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.
Seven-Round New Orleans Saints Mock Draft
First Round (14th Overall): Olu Fashanu, OT
Need and talent overlap with the first selection in the Saints mock draft. Joe Alt is in a tier of his own, but there’s a good shot that Olu Fashanu ends up being the second-best tackle in this class. With Derek Carr being one of the worst quarterbacks against pressure, this team needs to solidify the offensive line if they want to make the playoffs in 2024.
Second Round (45th Overall): Christian Haynes, OG
New Orleans has a 105-pick gap between this and their next selection, so they’ll probably trade back in the actual draft. However, since this mock draft doesn’t include trades, the Saints stay put and continue to rebuild their offensive line. Christian Haynes might not be the most athletic player in the draft, but you don’t need to be in order to start at guard. The Connecticut product has the smarts, physicality, and motor to be a solid starter in this league for years to come.
Christian Haynes NFL Draft Profile
Fifth Round (150th Overall): Jordan Jefferson, DT
As you’d expect from any fifth-round pick, Jordan Jefferson will not be a Day 1 starter. However, he has the traits to develop into one. Blessed with a quick first step and a great ability to diagnose run plays, Jefferson could be a solid starter in 2025 if he adds a few pounds of muscle to his frame.
Fifth Round (168th Overall): Elijah Jones, CB
Elijah Jones is a scheme-specific cornerback who knows how to attack wide receivers. While he lacks the awareness to do much in zone and off-man coverage, he can bully receivers and make plays on contested passes. He’ll be a good situational player in the short term with the potential to grow into a full-time starter.
Fifth Round (170th Overall): Beaux Limmer, IOL
Beaux Limmer is a jack of all trades, master of none who makes plenty of sense as a late-round pick in this Saints mock draft. While he’s not quite good enough to be a full-time starter, he can be a valuable backup for all three interior line positions. Nobody wants to see him for 17 games, but he can keep the ship afloat if he needs to fill in for a few weeks.
Fifth Round (175th Overall): Tommy Eichenberg, LB
Tommy Eichenberg is a fun player to watch. A true north-south linebacker, this mock draft allows the Saints to plug him right into the run defense. While he lacks the speed to play on passing downs, he’s a good situational weapon with special teams upside. In the fifth round, you can’t ask for much more than that.
Tommy Eichenberg NFL Draft Profile
Sixth Round (190th Overall): Erick All, TE
A healthy version of Erick All would never be available in the sixth round of the Saints mock draft. He has the potential to be a solid receiving option and mismatch weapon, but he needs to prove that he can stay on the field. In the sixth round, the minimal risk easily justifies the potential reward.
Sixth Round (199th Overall): Patrick McMorris, S
The Saints aren’t going to find a starter in the sixth round of the mock draft, so they might as well go after a versatile player who can do a little bit of everything. Patrick McMorris has experience at all three safety spots and could see a decent amount of playing time with Marcus Maye off the roster.
Seventh Round (239th Overall): Jamree Kromah, DT
James Madison is far from the biggest program in the country, so the Saints could land a diamond in the rough with their final mock draft selection. Jamaree Kromah recorded an impressive 11 sacks and 20.5 tackles-for-loss last, demonstrating an impressive ability to make plays against the run and the pass. While NFL competition is considerably harder than James Madison’s schedule, he’s worth a dart throw.
Main Photo: Dan Rainville – USA Today Sports
