The 2020 NFL Draft is months away, but it’s never too soon to speculate about who the New Orleans Saints could end up picking. Especially with the college football season hurtling towards bowl game season. We aren’t going for accuracy here; think of this exercise as a preview for this weekend’s games
We used The Draft Network’s Mock Draft Machine to accurately simulate a selections before and after each of the Saints’ picks.
Round 1, Pick 30: QB Jalen Hurts, Oklahoma
Watch him next vs. TCU Saturday, Nov. 23 at 8 p.m. ET on FOX
Right now, Hurts is seen as a fringe first-round quarterback prospect, but his stock should rise once the pre-draft process kicks off in the spring just like it has for other quarterbacks. And expect Saints coach Sean Payton to be intrigued by Hurts’ abilities. Payton has been a fan of similar prospects like Kyler Murray, Baker Mayfield, Patrick Mahomes, Lamar Jackson, and Carson Wentz and Andrew Luck, all of whom featured rare arm strength along with the ability to make plays with their legs.
Hurts has made huge strides under Sooners coach Lincoln Riley after transferring from Alabama, leading Oklahoma in both passing yards (3,039) and rushing yards (983) while scoring a combined 43 touchdowns in 10 games (28 as a passer, 15 as a runner). He’s protected the ball well by throwing just five interceptions and fumbling six times.
With Drew Brees, Teddy Bridgewater, and Taysom Hill each due to receive new contracts after this season, the Saints are probably going to need a new face at quarterback. It’s tough to see Bridgewater remaining in New Orleans after going undefeated in his five-game stint as the starter and with so many quarterback-needy teams around the league. Whether Hurts, who will be a 21-year-old rookie, sits behind Brees for a year or competes with Hill to start, he’s the ideal prospect to bring under Payton’s tutelage.
Round 2, Pick 62: C Erik McCoy and S C.J. Gardner-Johnson
Watch them next vs. Carolina Panthers Sunday, Nov. 24 at 1 p.m. ET on CBS
The Saints packaged this pick with some later selections in the 2018 draft to move up and select McCoy, while also adding the pick that became Gardner-Johnson. So their contributions as rookies have to be considered. McCoy was a slam-dunk pick who has rarely missed a snap and proven a clear upgrade at the position, playing largely mistake-free football. Gardner-Johnson has stepped into a starting role when injuries hit the secondary and played so well that the Saints have a hard time taking him off the field. The rookie defensive back has excelled when defending the slot even if he lacks the long speed to keep up with the fastest receivers in the NFL.
Round 3, Pick 94: WR Brandon Aiyuk, Arizona State
Watch him next vs. Oregon on Saturday, Nov. 23 at 7:30 p.m. ET on ABC
Aiyuk (listed at 6-foot-1, 195 pounds) might be exactly what the Saints need at wide receiver, especially with Brees still in at quarterback. He’s a huge threat to turn short catches into big gains after the catch, using his lower-body strength to accelerate past defenders and make a play. He leads the Sun Devils in receptions (53), receiving yards (964), and touchdown catches (7). So long as the Saints offense struggles to connect on passes deep downfield, finding ways to create explosive plays after the catch (and closer to the line of scrimmage) might be their best path to putting up points. And there are few better run-after-catch threats in college football than Aiyuk.
Round 4, Pick 126: LB Chazz Surratt, North Carolina
Watch him next at NC State on Saturday, Nov. 30 at 7 p.m. ET on ACC Network
Surratt made the change to linebacker from quarterback this year, so he’s still maxing out his frame (listed at 6-foot-3, 230 pounds) for the demands of that position switch. But the immediate returns have been huge for him: Surratt leads the Tar Heels in tackles (95) and tackles for loss of yards (11.5), counting five sacks, an interception and a forced fumble, along with two pass deflections among his splash plays. He has the smarts and athleticism to make plays all over the field, even if he’s a bit inexperienced at playing defense rather than offense. The junior may stay another year to continue learning the ropes, but if he does declare he’d be a great fit in New Orleans to develop behind veterans like Demario Davis.
