The 2019 NFL Draft is just days away, and fans of the New Orleans Saints are ready for it to be over with. It’s tough to find enthusiasm when the Saints are scheduled to make their first pick late Friday night, missing the exciting first round altogether. But they should expect the black and gold to be aggressive as always, using a combination of late-round picks, future draft selections, and some available players to move up the draft board and target specific prospects they value highly.
Remember, the Saints have stood pat just twice: Sean Payton’s first year on the job (2006), and that time the league suspended him from contacting the team at all (2012). The Saints will very likely trade up at some point in the draft, even if only a few spots. Here’s our best and final guess at what this year’s draft class might look like.
Round 1, Pick 30: Traded to Green Bay
Part of the Marcus Davenport trade.
Round 2, No. 57: DT Dre’Mont Jones, Ohio State
The Saints make a small trade up from No. 62, leapfrogging the Dallas Cowboys at No. 58 and the Indianapolis Colts at No. 59, adding an instant-impact player on their defensive line. The Eagles accept the slight bump down after having made an earlier pick at No. 53, gaining the Saints’ pick at No. 62 and two of New Orleans’ selections in the later rounds (No. 177 in round six and No. 244 in round seven).
Jones broke out in a big way last year, finishing second on the talented Buckeyes defense in tackles for loss (14) and sacks (8.5), and leading the team in turnovers (3 fumble recoveries, a forced fumble, and an interception). He also set the pace for the defense in touchdown scores, finding the opposing team’s end zone on a 28-yard interception return and again with one of his fumble recoveries. He makes plays and moves well at a hair beneath 6-foot-3, 280 pounds. That’s exactly what the Saints need while Sheldon Rankins rehabs his surgically-repaired Achilles and David Onyemata waits to see whether he will receive a league suspension.
Round 2, No. 62: Traded to Philadelphia
Part of the Dre’Mont Jones trade.
Round 3, Pick 93: Traded to New York (Jets)
Part of the Teddy Bridgewater trade.
Round 4, Pick 106: WR Terry McLaurin, Ohio State
The Saints stay on-brand and add another Buckeye; this one is also a good football player. It costs them linebacker A.J. Klein, who led the team in tackles for loss last year (16) but was made expendable by the defense’s shift to more two-linebacker looks, and the high level of play between Demario Davis and Alex Anzlaone. The playmaker-needy Raiders were happy to oblige by giving up No. 106 and swapping seventh round picks (bumping the Saints down to No. 235 from No. 231).
McLaurin is one of the best route runners in the draft, and was criminally underutilized at Ohio State (sound familiar? Michael Thomas might think so), leaving the Buckeyes with just 75 receptions in his four-year career. Even though he wasn’t featured in the offense until 2017, McLaurin made the most of those limited touches: 17 of his last 64 catches found the end zone, and he made gains at a clip of 17.8 yards per reception in that time. His combination of skill and speed (timing the 40-yard dash in 4.35 seconds at 6-foot-0, 208 pounds) suggests upside that the Saints could easily unlock.
Round 4, Pick 132: Traded to New York (Giants)
Part of the Eli Apple trade.
Round 5, Pick 143: TE Foster Moreau, LSU
The Saints jump to the front of round five from the back of it, giving up pick No. 168 and next year’s fifth round selection for No. 143. The Giants pick back-to-back here at No. 142 and No. 143 (and will select again at No. 171), so they’re content to move back after having already gotten a prospect they valued.
Moreau tested like one of the best athletes at this year’s combine regardless of position, which makes his lack of touches in LSU’s run-first offense even more puzzling. But he wouldn’t be the first skills player to leave Death Valley with a stronger NFL outlook than what he accomplished in college. The Saints have their top tight ends set between Jared Cook and Josh Hill, but Moreau would offer a high-upside third wheel who can learn the offense and develop behind them. He’d be a more reliable target in tight spots than the other prospects at the bottom of the Saints’ depth chart.
Round 6, Pick 177: Traded to Philadelphia
Part of the Dre’Mont Jones trade.
Round 6, Pick 202: G/T Phil Haynes, Wake Forest
The Saints have a rich history of adding guards in the fifth and sixth rounds: look no further than the posters of Jahri Evans and Carl Nicks around the team facility. Haynes is a great candidate to continue that tradition. He’s a very physical blocker with starter’s experience at both right and left guard, and began his career at right tackle before Wake Forest’s coaches asked him to move around the lineup as injuries hit the unit. He also checked all the boxes at the combine, testing well athletically at 6-foot-3, 322 pounds. The Saints are in flux at center and left guard, and Haynes’ talents could go a long way in helping them sort out who starts where.
Round 7, Pick 231: Traded to Oakland
Part of the Terry McLaurin-A.J. Klein trade.
Round 7, Pick 235: LB Cole Holcomb, North Carolina
The Saints clinched the deal to pick up a fourth round selection from the Raiders by agreeing to move down a few slots at the end of the draft; this is where they ended up. It’s a small concession to make, but teams reach these kinds of agreements all the time (see: the New England Patriots getting pass rusher Michael Bennett for pennies on the dollar earlier this year).
New Orleans spent a ton of time evaluating linebacker prospects for the later rounds, and Holcomb might be the best available near the end of the draft. The three-year starter put his athleticism to good use, knifing through the gaps between would-be blockers to rack up 327 tackles (171 solo) for the Tar Heels, 15.5 of them dropping teams for loss of yardage. He also deflected a dozen passes in coverage and, as a senior, made opponents cough up four fumbles. He’s a perfect candidate to stand out on special teams and back up a suddenly-deep Saints linebacker group.
Round 7, Pick 244: Traded to Philadelphia
Part of the Dre’Mont Jones trade.
