Bowl season is in full swing and 2023 NFL draft prospects are beginning to announce their intentions, and while the New Orleans Saints aren’t going to enjoy the benefits of a high draft pick after their disappointing season they’ll still be active on draft day. It’s always good to keep up with which draft prospects may be on their radar even if New Orleans won’t be on the clock until
To get an idea of which prospects could be in play when the Saints are expected to be on the board early in the second round, I surveyed five different mock drafts from around the NFL media landscape — taking down the players projected from Nos. 25 to 40 overall. There are always players expected to go late in the first round who slip back a bit and others who go sooner than expected, so this gives us an idea of maybe-realistic options.
Of course that’s going to change when teams begin evaluating the upcoming draft class in earnest. College all-star events like the Senior Bowl and Shrine Game will do a lot to expose coaches and decision-makers to players, as will the NFL Scouting Combine and workouts on the pro day circuit. For now we’re just building a list of names to know to look out for in the months ahead, and trying to get an idea of where the strength of this draft class lies.
And of the 50 prospects listed in those various mock drafts, an overwhelming majority play cornerback or defensive end (8 each). There’s smaller groups of offensive tackles (6), defensive tackles (5), and interior offensive linemen (5) in the mix, too, as well as linebackers and safeties (4 each). It’s looking like slim pickings at quarterback, running back, and wide receiver (3 each), and a single tight end got mentioned in our draft range.
So it’s shaping up for a draft class running deep in the trenches and secondary, with limited options at high-priority spots for New Orleans like quarterback and running back. Maybe this is another year where the Saints zig when everyone else zags, unless they’re looking to build on a strength like their offensive line or cornerbacks room. It’s good to see so many talented defensive linemen in the running given how poorly New Orleans’ front four have played this year, though. Maybe that’s where they go.
Anyway, here’s what you’re here for. Run through the list of all 50 prospects who made the cut:
Dec 2, 2022; Las Vegas, NV, USA; Utah Utes cornerback Clark Phillips III (1) defends on…Dec 10, 2022; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Army Black Knights outside linebacker Andre Carter II (34) reacts…Southern California offensive lineman Andrew Vorhees sets up for a play during the second half of…Sep 17, 2022; Lincoln, Nebraska, USA; Oklahoma Sooners offensive lineman Anton Harrison (71) blocks Nebraska Cornhuskers…Nov 26, 2022; College Station, Texas, USA; Texas A&M Aggies defensive back Antonio Johnson (27) lunges…Nov 25, 2022; Austin, Texas, USA; Texas Longhorns running back Bijan Robinson (5) acknowledges fans during…Nov 26, 2022; College Station, Texas, USA; Texas A&M Aggies offensive lineman Trey Zuhn III (60)…Sep 29, 2022; Provo, Utah, USA; Brigham Young Cougars offensive lineman Blake Freeland (71) before playing…Sep 3, 2022; Columbus, Ohio, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish safety Brandon Joseph (16) reacts to…Sep 17, 2022; Tuscaloosa, Alabama, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide defensive back Brian Branch (14) returns a…Nov 19, 2022; Lexington, Kentucky, USA; Georgia Bulldogs offensive lineman Broderick Jones (59) warms up before…Oct 22, 2022; Clemson, SC, USA; Clemson defensive lineman Bryan Bresee (11) celebrates sacking Syracuse quarterback…Sep 24, 2022; Columbia, South Carolina, USA; South Carolina Gamecocks defensive back Cam Smith (9) celebrates…Dec 17, 2022; Inglewood, CA, USA; Washington State Cougars quarterback Cameron Ward (1) warms up prior…Oct 8, 2022; Tucson, Arizona, USA; Oregon Ducks defensive back Christian Gonzalez (0) against the Arizona…FARGO, NORTH DAKOTA - OCTOBER 29: Nash Jensen #66 and Cody Mauch #70 of the North…Dec 3, 2022; Atlanta, GA, USA; Georgia Bulldogs tight end Darnell Washington (0) reacts after his…Jan 1, 2022; Pasadena, CA, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes offensive lineman Dawand Jones (79) celebrates after…Sep 24, 2022; Auburn, Alabama, USA; Auburn Tigers linebacker Derick Hall (29) returns an interception as…Nov 26, 2022; College Station, Texas, USA; Texas A&M Aggies running back Devon Achane (6) runs…Nov 6, 2021; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini defensive back Devon Witherspoon (31) celebrates a…Sep 3, 2022; Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA; Michigan Wolverines defensive back DJ Turner (5) runs the…Sep 10, 2022; Fayetteville, Arkansas, USA; Arkansas Razorbacks linebacker Drew Sanders (42) pursues South Carolina Gamecocks…Jan 10, 2022; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide offensive lineman Emil Ekiyor Jr. (55) against…Nov 19, 2022; Starkville, Mississippi, USA; Mississippi State Bulldogs cornerback Emmanuel Forbes (13) returns an interception…Nov 26, 2022; Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts, USA; Syracuse Orange defensive back Garrett Williams (8) on the…Nov 19, 2022; Columbia, South Carolina, USA; Tennessee Volunteers quarterback Hendon Hooker (5) passes against the…Sep 24, 2022; Tuscaloosa, Alabama, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide linebacker Henry To'o To'o (10) hits Vanderbilt…Nov 19, 2022; South Bend, Indiana, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish defensive lineman Isaiah Foskey (7)…Sep 25, 2021; College Park, Maryland, USA; Maryland Terrapins offensive lineman Jaelyn Duncan (71) stands on…Oct 8, 2022; Tuscaloosa, Alabama, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide running back Jahmyr Gibbs (1) carries the…Nov 26, 2022; Nashville, Tennessee, USA; Tennessee Volunteers wide receiver Jalin Hyatt (11) after a first…Oct 1, 2022; Tallahassee, Florida, USA; Florida State Seminoles defensive end Jared Verse (5) reacts to…Sep 3, 2022; Columbus, Ohio, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba (11) runs on…Oct 29, 2022; College Station, Texas, USA; Texas A&M Aggies defensive back Jaylon Jones (17) tackles…Minnesota offensive lineman John Michael Schmitz (60) in action during the first half of an NCAA…Dec 4, 2021; Atlanta, GA, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide defensive back Jordan Battle (9) celebrates after…Oct 29, 2022; Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels wide receiver Josh Downs…Oct 16, 2021; Madison, Wisconsin, USA; Wisconsin Badgers nose tackle Keeanu Benton (95) celebrates after recovering…Oct 1, 2022; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets defensive lineman Keion White (6) forces…Oct 29, 2022; Iowa City, Iowa, USA; Iowa Hawkeyes defensive lineman Lukas Van Ness (91) reacts…Dec 4, 2021; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Michigan Wolverines defensive lineman Mazi Smith (58) against the Iowa…Nov 19, 2022; Eugene, Oregon, USA; Oregon Ducks linebacker Noah Sewell (1) encourages fans during the…Oct 8, 2022; Athens, Georgia, USA; Georgia Bulldogs linebacker Nolan Smith (4) tackles Auburn Tigers running…Florida offensive lineman O'Cyrus Torrence (54) celebrates a near touchdown during an NCAA football game against…Dec 3, 2022; Atlanta, GA, USA; Georgia Bulldogs offensive lineman Sedrick Van Pran (63) with the…Nov 27, 2021; Waco, Texas, USA; Texas Tech Red Raiders offensive lineman Weston Wright (70) attempts…Dec 3, 2022; Charlotte, NC, USA; Clemson Tigers linebacker Trenton Simpson (22) tackles North Carolina Tar…Nov 5, 2022; Los Angeles, California, USA; USC Trojans defensive lineman Tuli Tuipulotu (49) plays against…Nov 26, 2022; Lexington, Kentucky, USA; Kentucky Wildcats quarterback Will Levis (7) fakes a handoff during…
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