The New Orleans Saints did a great job addressing their needs in free agency, holding onto some of their most important players while plugging holes on the depth chart with veteran signings. That significantly reshaped their list of team needs going into Round 1 of the 2023 NFL draft.
Saints general manager Mickey Loomis may have downplayed the priority with which they need to address some concerns in his pre-draft press conference, but some areas remain more worrisome than others. Here’s a quick look at the Saints’ most pressing team needs (plus some early-round targets to monitor) in the final hours leading up to the draft:
Defensive tackle
- Players under contract: Nathan Shepherd, Khalen Saunders, Malcolm Roach, and Prince Emili
The Saints lost three of their top four players at defensive tackle in free agency, including longtime point man David Onyemata (plus his co-starter Shy Tuttle and a good backup in Kentavius Street). Shepherd and Saunders were signed off the open market and they’re both quality depth pieces, but New Orleans needs more beef up front.
Prospects to watch:
- Mazi Smith, Michigan
- Keeanu Benton, Wisconsin
- Bryan Bresee, Clemson
- Adetomiwa Adebawore, Northwestern
- Calijah Kancey, Pittsburgh
- Gervon Dexter Sr., Florida
- Zacch Pickens, South Carolina
Defensive end
- Players under contract: Cameron Jordan, Carl Granderson, Tanoh Kpassagnon, Payton Turner, Jabari Zuniga
The Saints let Marcus Davenport leave without a fight, and Turner has not appreciably developed in his first two years, so this is a major area of concern even if they have enough warm bodies as things currently stand. Jordan is entering the final year of his contract and it would be really nice to have a long-term succession plan lined up behind him.
Prospects to watch:
- Lukas Van Ness, Iowa
- Myles Murphy, Clemson
- Keion White, Georgia Tech
- Felix Anudike-Uzomah, Kansas State
- Isaiah Foskey, Notre Dame
- Zach Harrison, Ohio State
- Isaiah McGuire, Missouri
Linebacker
- Players under contract: Demario Davis, Pete Werner, Zack Baun, D’Marco Jackson, Nephi Sewell, Andrew Dowell, Ty Summers, Ryan Connelly
Werner is a great asset when healthy, but durability has been an issue for him through his first two years. Having a more clear succession plan lined up for Davis would be great. The question is whether that player will be available in what’s, by all accounts, a middling-at-best draft class at linebacker.
Prospects to watch:
- Jack Campbell, Iowa
- Drew Sanders, Arkansas
- Trenton Simpson, Clemson
- Dorian Williams, Tulane
- Yasir Abdullah, Louisville
- Noah Sewell, Oregon
- Jeremy Banks, Tennessee
Tight end
- Players under contract: Juwan Johnson, Adam Trautman, Miller Forristall, Lucas Krull
The Saints may still want another tight end in the wake of Foster Moreau’s cancer diagnosis, and Trautman’s lack of development as a receiver and blocker is a big reason why. Finding an inline tight end who can be an asset in the run game while making the most of limited targets behind Johnson should be a priority.
Prospects to watch:
- Michael Mayer, Notre Dame
- Dalton Kincaid, Utah
- Darnell Washington, Georgia
- Luke Musgrave, Oregon State
- Sam LaPorta, Iowa
- Tucker Kraft, South Dakota State
- Brenton Strange, Penn State
Wide receiver
- Players under contract: Chris Olave, Michael Thomas, Rashid Shaheed, Tre’Quan Smith, Keith Kirkwood, Kirk Merritt, Kawaan Baker, Bryan Edwards
This is kind of specific. The Saints should be on the prowl for another sure-handed possession receiver to develop as an understudy for Thomas, but who can be trusted to play in his place should the superstar miss more time with injuries. They have enough lightweight speedsters as it is. And is that niche going to present enough opportunities to justify an early-round pick?
Prospects to watch:
- Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Ohio State
- Quentin Johnson, TCU
- Cedric Tillman, Tennessee
- Josh Downs, North Carolina
- Jonathan Mingo, Ole Miss
- A.T. Perry, Wake Forest
- Michael Wilson, Stanford
Defensive back
- Players under contract (safety): Tyrann Matheiu, Marcus Maye, J.T. Gray, Johnathan Abram, Ugo Amadi, Lonnie Johnson Jr., Smoke Monday
- Players under contract (corner): Marshon Lattimore, Alontae Taylor, Paulson Adebo, Bradley Roby, Isaac Yiadom, Vincent Gray, Troy Pride Jr.
This is also more of a specific need. The Saints haven’t adequately replaced C.J. Gardner-Johnson in the slot, so finding someone to man that spot and develop as a long-term replacement for Mathieu, Maye, or maybe Lattimore would be very helpful. But the most immediate factor to consider is experience guarding the slot and an ability to do that right away as a rookie.
Prospects to watch:
- Brian Branch, Alabama
- Cam Smith, South Carolina
- Sydney Brown, Illinois
- Jartavius Martin, Illinois
- Riley Moss, Iowa
- Ji’Ayir Brown, Penn State
- Tyrique Stevenson, Miami
Offensive guard
- Players under contract: Andrus Peat, Cesar Ruiz, Calvin Throckmorton, Lewis Kidd, Yasir Durant, Koda Martin
Both Peat and Ruiz are on track to be free agents in 2024, so it would be smart to get someone lined up to replace at least one of them. That could mean an early-round investment, but good guards can be found throughout the draft. That hasn’t stopped the Saints from hurrying to address the problem sooner rather than later before.
Prospects to watch:
- O’Cyrus Torrence, Florida
- Steve Avila, TCU
- Cody Mauch, North Dakota State
- Chandler Zavala, North Carolina State
- Braeden Daniels, Utah
- Sidy Sow, Eastern Michigan
- McClendon Curtis, Chattanooga
