The 2019 NFL Draft is almost around the corner, and we’ve got the latest New Orleans Saints mock draft ready to tide you over. This time, there’s a twist: instead of sticking to the current draft order, we’re simulating several trades to project how the Saints might move up (or down) the board on draft day. The transactions are modeled after recent draft-day trades.
You can almost bet on the Saints making some moves this year. Except for his first year on the job, the only draft Saints head coach Sean Payton didn’t make any trades was the year he was suspended (2012). Patience isn’t in his DNA.
So let’s get into it. Here’s seven rounds of picks for the Saints, with trades:
Round 1, Pick 30: Traded to Green Bay
Part of the Marcus Davenport trade.
Round 2, Pick 53: DT Jerry Tillery, Notre Dame
Tillery should be a first round draft pick. He’s consistently disruptive, a rare athlete, and only going to improve once he recovers from shoulder surgery (that didn’t limit him from an incredible combine workout). But NFL shot-callers tend to overthink these things, especially when they can point at “red flags.”
Tillery once lost his cool as a sophomore and kicked opponents on the ground, but hasn’t had another incident after that. More importantly to NFL teams, Tillery likes to read. He also likes to travel abroad and follow fashion designers on social media. None of this matters in the real world, but somewhere, an overworked scout or coach is going to think it means Tillery might not be good at football after all.
If Tillery falls like this on draft day, it could make for an opportunity the Saints can exploit. He’d be the perfect candidate to step in while Sheldon Rankins works to return from a torn Achilles. While veteran lineman David Onyemata would likely start, he’s a free agent after 2019 and this move could grant the Saints some stability down the road.
Round 2, Pick 62: Traded to Philadelphia
The Saints sent their second round (No. 62), later sixth round (No. 177), and 2020 fourth round picks to the Eagles, who are slotted in to pick at No. 53 and at No. 57. That gives Philadelphia a good chance of landing the same player they would have targeted at No. 53 while picking up some future draft capital.
Round 3, Pick 73: WR J.J. Arcega-Whiteside, Stanford
The Saints trade their 2020 second round pick and their earlier seventh round selection (No. 231) to the New England Patriots, and use it to add a dynamic receiver. The Saints get a playmaker, and the Patriots get a future pick while still owning more top 100 selections than anyone else this year. This trade is modeled after the deal that brought Alvin Kamara to New Orleans back in 2017.
Arcega-Whiteside could have a similar impact at receiver. He’s a gifted athlete who somehow plays bigger than his listed 6-foot-2, 225 pounds, checking every box during workouts at Stanford’s pro day. He didn’t meet a defensive back who could challenge him at the catch point, playing the game like a basketball star on contested catches. He leaves Stanford ranking second-best in school history with 28 touchdown catches.
What’s impressive is that Arcega-Whiteside is still rounding out his skills set. His routes are unrefined and broadcast his intentions to opponents, and he hasn’t been tasked with diagnosing coverage pre-snap and adjusting to it. Those are skills that Saints receivers coach Curtis Johnson can teach him. Arcega-Whiteside has all the tools and the work ethic to be great. The Saints could put him in the situation to help him excel.
Round 3, Pick 93: Traded to New York (Jets)
Part of the Teddy Bridgewater trade.
Round 4, Pick 104: TE Kahale Warring, San Diego State
The Saints trade left guard Andrus Peat and their other seventh round pick (No. 244) for the Oakland Raiders’ fourth round pick (No. 104) and a fifth round pick in 2020. This gets Peat’s bloated 2019 salary cap hit ($9.625 million) off the books and returns some draft capital, granting the Saints flexibility moving forward. The Raiders do not have great options at left guard, so Peat immediately steps into a starting role next to big free agent signing Trent Brown at left tackle.
Warring could have a huge impact in New Orleans. At 6-foot-5, 252 pounds with speed and agility to spare, Warring would be a welcome addition to an offense lacking athletic pass-catchers. Jared Cook will get the lion’s share of targets, which is fine — rookies rarely handle such workloads well anyway. Instead, Warring will step into a great situation to develop behind Cook (as a receiver) and Josh Hill (as a blocker).
San Diego State didn’t get the most out of Warring’s abilities. Their run-first offense called for him to work as a blocker more often than anything else, which means he’s plenty competent at mixing it up in the trenches. But his real gifts are running down the seam and making acrobatic catches. His versatile athletic background projects to a terrific pro career.
Round 4, Pick 132: Traded to New York (Giants)
Part of the Eli Apple trade.
Round 5, Pick 142: LB Terrill Hanks, Arizona State
The Saints trade their fifth round selection (No. 168) and their 2020 sixth round pick for the New York Giants’ fifth round pick (No. 142). The Giants have back-to-back selections at No. 142 and No. 143, so they agree to move down slightly and add another pick down the road.
The Saints use this pick to add Hanks, an imposing linebacker at 6-foot-2, 242 pounds. He’s an enforcer at the second level who eagerly fights through blockers even though he has the closing speed to evade them, recording 43 tackles for loss in his career. With the starters (Demario Davis, Alex Anzalone, and A.J. Klein) set and the principle backup (Craig Robertson) in place, Hanks figures to mainly help out on special teams as a rookie (if he makes the team).
But his athletic upside and college production are very impressive, and he could beat those expectations. The Saints have invested a lot of resources into researching linebacker prospects for the later rounds, and it wouldn’t be surprising in the least if they end up making a move like this to take the player they like best.
Round 5, Pick 168: Traded to New York (Giants)
Part of the Terrill Hanks trade.
Round 6, Pick 177: Traded to Philadelphia
Part of the Jerry Tillery trade.
Round 6, Pick 202: OL Beau Benzschawel, Wisconsin
The Saints stay put with this selection, adding an experienced starting guard to their offensive line. Benzschawel began his career at right tackle before moving inside, spending the next 43 games at right guard for the Badgers. He’s a smart, technically-sound blocker who is probably maxed out as an athlete. This late in the draft, you can’t hope for much more than that.
And maybe Benzschawel continues to play well. The Saints got Pro Bowl returns out of Jahri Evans (No. 108), Carl Nicks (No. 164), and Zach Strief (No. 210), none of whom were drafted highly. And Benzschawel is as well-coached as college prospects come.
With Peat traded (in this scenario), the Saints now have to pick two out of Nick Easton, Cameron Tom, Will Clapp, and Benzschawel to start at left guard and center. Easton is a favorite to land the job at center, but each of the other three players have a solid-enough resume to consider winning the other spot.
Round 7, Pick 231: Traded to New England
Part of the J.J. Arcega-Whiteside trade.
Round 7, Pick 244: Traded to Oakland
Part of the Kahale Warring trade.
