Historically speaking, the New Orleans Saints are one of the most trade-heavy teams in the NFL, so why should a mock draft be any different? After once again digging their way out of salary cap hell, New Orleans needs to build through the draft if they want to make their first playoff appearance of the post-Drew Brees Era. With Dennis Allen’s job on the line, the Saints must do everything in their power to create the best unit possible for 2024.
Note that this Saints mock draft was performed using the Pro Football Focus Mock Draft simulator. If the player was on the board when New Orleans was on the clock, they were fair game. Also, all trades had to be naturally approved by the machine’s algorithm – the “force trade” button was never used.
Offense Dominates Trade-Heavy Saints Seven-Round Mock Draft
First Round (14th Overall)
TRADE: Saints send 1.14, 5.170 to Jacksonville Jaguars for 1.17, 3.96
The Saints kick off this mock draft with a trade, but they’re not aggressively going after a prospect right now. While this might not be the most fun decision, it is a necessary one. Currently, the Saints don’t have a single pick in the third or fourth rounds, and they’ll need to close that 105-pick gap between selections. What they do have, however, is four picks in the fifth round, and they should be more than willing to part way with one of those to get a better mid-round pick.
First Round (17th Overall) – Taliese Fuaga, OT
Had the Saints stayed at 14, I would have selected Taliese Fuaga in this mock draft. So, this trade essentially nets a free third-round pick. New Orleans needs an offensive tackle in the worst way, especially given the uncertain health status of Ryan Ramczyk. Fuaga is a hard-nosed, physical blocker who should be able to start from Day 1 and provide some much-needed protection for Derek Carr.
Taliese Fuaga NFL Draft Profile
Second Round (45th Overall) – Ricky Pearsall, WR
The Saints have a great do-everything receiver in Chris Olave and a reliable deep threat in Rashid Shaheed. What they don’t have, however, is a chain-mover who can quickly get open off the line of scrimmage. With Michael Thomas destined to sign elsewhere, the Saints find a perfect replacement in this mock draft with Ricky Pearsall. While he’ll never match Thomas at his peak, he’s more than capable of handling short and intermediate routes and making exciting plays after the catch.
Ricky Pearsall NFL Draft Profile
Third Round (87th Overall) – Dominick Puni, OT/OG
Trade: Saints trade 3.96, 5.150 for 3.87
Now it’s time for the Saints to get aggressive, and this mock draft has them trading up for a versatile offensive lineman. Dominick Puni played tackle in college, and he has the build to play the position in the NFL. However, his questionable feet make him a better fit for guard. The Saints need another guard, but they also need an insurance policy in case Ramczyk never fully recovers from his knee injury. New Orleans gets two birds with one stone, which more than justifies a trade-up.
Fifth Round (168th Overall) – Dylan Laube, RB
With all of the “sure things” gone, New Orleans needs to take the best player available and worry about fit later. This means that the Saints will add Dylan Laube to a crowded but questionable running back room. With Alvin Kamara getting older, Jamaal Williams showing nothing, and Kendre Miller a giant question mark, the New Hampshire product could establish himself in this backfield. A gifted receiver, the UNH alum is essentially a poor man’s version of Alvin Kamara and would be a natural replacement if injury or age strikes the former Pro Bowler.
Fifth Round (175th Overall) – Joe Milton, QB
Derek Carr is the quarterback of the present, but he’s certainly not the quarterback of the future. Joe Milton is one of the most physically gifted prospects in this class, but he needs to refine the mental aspect of the game. If he can do that, then he could beat out Carr for the job in 2025.
Sixth Round (190th Overall) – Daijahn Anthony, S
The Saints finally address the defense with the 190th pick in this mock draft. New Orleans needs another safety to pair with Tyrann Mathieu, and Daijahn Anthony could be the man for the job. The Mississippi product is a violent playmaker in the box, aggressively charging down the line to stop running backs in their tracks. While he lacks the athleticism to play deep, he can be a valuable player on running downs.
Sixth Round (199th Overall) – Marcus Harris, DI
Marcus Harris is a smaller guy, but he uses his undersized build as a means to slip past slower interior lineman and hit running backs and quarterbacks in the backfield. While he probably won’t ever be a three-down player, he could be a useful situation player against strong passing offenses.
Seventh Round (239th Overall) – Dominique Hampton, S
The Saints wrap up this mock draft with another safety in Dominique Hampton. As is the case with most seventh-round picks, Hampton is a work in progress that won’t be ready for a big role in Week 1. However, unlike most late-round prospects, the Washington product has the traits to become a solid starter, and New Orleans should welcome a low-risk, high-upside selection like this. If nothing else, his traits should translate to special teams.
Main Photo: Kirby Lee – USA Today Sports
