The NFL has converged on Mobile, Ala. for this year’s Reese’s Senior Bowl, which features a series of media sessions and practices involving some of the top prospects in the 2020 NFL Draft. Scouts, coaches, general managers, and everyone else are in town to get a first look at the next crop of rookies. So of course it’s time to start paying better attention to mock drafts.
NFL Network’s Daniel Jeremiah has a reputation as one of the most-accurate prognosticators around the industry. His first 2020 mock draft has connected the Saints with LSU Tigers wide receiver Justin Jefferson. Jeremiah explained the logic behind his pick:
Jefferson is very precise as a route runner, and I love his toughness. He’ll fit perfectly next to Michael Thomas.
Plenty of things will change between now and draft day in late April, but it’s tough to argue against a better fit than Jefferson in New Orleans. The 6-foot-3, 192-pound junior thrived in a similar offense run by ex-Saints assistant Joe Brady (who’s now the Carolina Panthers offensive coordinator), building on his sophomore-year momentum to lead the team in receptions (111) and rank second-best in receiving yards (1,540) and touchdown catches (18).
He wasn’t targeted in two appearances as a freshman; but in 28 games over his last two years, Jefferson averaged 5.9 catches per game for 86.3 yards gained through the air. He’s exactly who the Saints need to help take pressure off of Thomas, who led the league in receptions (149, breaking an all-time record). Only one other Saints wideout caught more than 18 passes, and that was pending free agent Ted Ginn Jr., who reeled in just 30.
