Saints: Why New Orleans is in luck when it comes to the 2023 NFL Draft
Needs are always a hot topic entering the NFL Draft. For the New Orleans Saints, their biggest holes on the roster stand out a bit. Interior offensive and defensive line depth as well as cornerback depth are arguably the three biggest needs. Tight end is on the table early in the draft, too. Lance Zierlein […]
Needs are always a hot topic entering the NFL Draft. For the New Orleans Saints, their biggest holes on the roster stand out a bit.
Interior offensive and defensive line depth as well as cornerback depth are arguably the three biggest needs. Tight end is on the table early in the draft, too.
The analyst gives the top nod to cornerback.
The class has impressive top end talent as well as legitimate depth.
We saw 12 cornerbacks go in the first three rounds last year, including Defensive Rookie of the Year Sauce Gardner. There might not be a Sauce in this year's class, but there appears to be a higher number of players who will be starters in the NFL. In fact, there will be big, long, explosive perimeter cornerbacks available in each of the first four rounds. I expect Christian Gonzalez and Devon Witherspoon to be the first two players drafted at the position, but we should see five, maybe even six, taken in the first round.
You can get starting CBs even in rounds 2-3. For the Saints, they could look at a CB at the end of the first to put behind Marshon Lattimore and Alontae Taylor. Those two project to be their top two at the position. After that, the depth is inconsistent.
Next, tight end is at two for Zierlein.
This is one of the most promising tight end classes I've seen in a while. Michael Mayer, Luke Musgrave, Dalton Kincaid and Darnell Washington are the most well-known prospects and each is worthy of going inside the first 40 picks. But there should be starting-caliber players selected a little later on, including Luke Schoonmaker, Tucker Kraft, Sam LaPortaand Brenton Strange.
Mayer, Kincaid, and Washington could all go in the first round.
There's been plenty of hype around a handful of the prospects at the position, and the Saints need another impact TE alongside Juwan Johnson. Taysom Hill is technically a tight end, but his role is extremely unique.
Keep an eye out for them to have a couple of TEs on their radar in the first two days of the draft.
Edge defender is his third-highest ranked position group.
If your team is looking for an edge defender, you should hope it addresses the position within the first 75 picks because the depth will start to diminish after that point in the draft. Will Anderson Jr. and Tyree Wilson have high-end potential and there is a nice collection of future starters with size and/or explosiveness within the first two rounds. Some of the most intriguing prospects include Tuli Tuipulotu, Felix Anudike-Uzomah and Isaiah Foskey, who should go in the second round. Keion White has the versatility to play inside or outside, but for the purposes of this article, I'm classifying him as an edge defender, which strengthens this position group.
For New Orleans, they have a top veteran DE in Cameron Jordan. Behind him, there is a bit of unknown.
Carl Granderson played the best ball of his career a season ago in place of Marcus Davenport. He isn't the most experienced starter, though, so the Saints will probably look for more at that spot.
Players like Tyree Wilson or Will Anderson Jr. won't be available by the time they pick, but some other skillsets will be.
We may get more clarity regarding the Saints' plan as the draft approaches, but they do like to keep it all close to the vest. Only time will tell.