What would a perfect scenario in the 2020 NFL Draft look like for each NFL team? That’s what Pro Football Focus’s Anthony Treash set out to discover, outlining what needs to happen for each team to look back on this year’s draft haul as an absolute win.
Here’s what he had to say about the New Orleans Saints, who should hope that LSU Tigers linebacker prospect Patrick Queen is available when they’re on the clock at No. 24 overall:
After signing wideout Emmanuel Sanders and letting linebacker A.J. Klein leave in free agency, the Saints’ focus in the draft went from wide receiver to off-ball linebacker. There isn’t a better option for New Orleans in this class than Patrick Queen of LSU.
After being named the starter in Week 4 this past season, Queen posted a coverage grade that ranked seventh in the FBS. He allowed just half a yard per coverage snap overall, which is a remarkable number for an SEC linebacker.
A rookie linebacker would have an easier path to playing early and often in 2020 than any other position the Saints could address. Two of the three projected Saints starters are returning from injuries that ended their 2019 seasons (Alex Anzalone and Kiko Alonso), as is a top backup (Kaden Elliss).
Adding Queen would give the Saints an instant impact in the middle of their defense, allowing them to get younger, faster, and healthier in the linebacker corps. Even if Anzalone or Alonso initially starts over him in the Saints nickel defense — both are great players, if shackled by extensive injury histories — there should be plenty of snaps to go around.
Demario Davis is a first-team All-Pro talent, but he’s entering the final year of his contract. Picking up Queen now would give the Saints some much-needed security in 2020 and beyond.
