Few teams invest as many resources in their offensive and defensive lines as the New Orleans Saints, and that trend could continue in the 2023 NFL draft. It’s abundantly clear that the team needs another defensive tackle (and maybe a defensive end, too). They also can’t count on good health at the offensive guard spots.
So it makes sense that ESPN’s Jordan Reid has linked them to a couple of prospects who could address those needs in the first two rounds, citing a source who says the Saints plan to start this year’s draft by “Adding to the trenches.” Reid shared some insight on what New Orleans is thinking two weeks out from the 2023 draft, highlighting a couple of options in the first and second rounds at both positions:
Expect New Orleans to be aggressive with fortifying both lines, especially after losing some key players on the defensive side. On the O-line, left guard is a big question mark, and the Saints could add competition with Andrus Peat. O’Cyrus Torrence (Florida) could be a Day 1 option, while Steve Avila is an intriguing Day 2 candidate. But defensive tackle is their biggest need, and Mazi Smith (Michigan) could be in play for the team at No. 29. Keeanu Benton (Wisconsin) is a second-day possibility there as a plug-and-play starter inside.
Those players all fit what the Saints like to look for. Torrence, Avila, and Benton were standouts at the Senior Bowl practices in February. Smith and Benton were both team captains last season. All four of them hit the height-weight-length thresholds the Saints value at guard and defensive tackle, though Relative Athletic Score results put only Benton (8.9) and Avila (8.49) closest to the threshold we’ve seen the Saints use in the past. Torrence’s results are beneath their usual standards, and Smith didn’t complete his timing drills to factor into RAS.
Still, these four players check enough boxes that they should all be in consideration once the Saints are on the clock. Getting Torrence at No. 29 and Benton at No. 40 (or reversing it with Smith in the first round and Avila in the second) would have things moving right on track in New Orleans. But that depends on those prospects being available at those spots, and we shouldn’t be surprised if the Saints make a trade to leapfrog competitors and get their guy. That’s what we have them doing in our latest mock draft. Reid’s line about expecting the Saints “to be aggressive with fortifying both lines” stands out in that regard.
What could they do in the later rounds? One position Reid zeroed in on is running back, which also checks out. The Saints have done a lot of work on this year’s prospects and they could add one of them in rounds three or four. Two names Reid linked to them: TCU’s Kendre Miller and UAB’s DeWayne McBride, both of whom have made pre-draft visits to the team facility.
