Saints Mock Draft 1.0
The 2023 NFL Draft will mark the 57th draft in New Orleans Saints franchise history. This year’s draft will be held in Kansas City. Round 1 will take place on Thursday, April 27, rounds 2 and 3 on Friday, April 28, with rounds 4-7 wrapping up the festivities on Saturday.
The New Orleans Saints currently own eight choices in this year’s draft. New Orleans has been busy during free agency period. The signings of Derek Carr, Jamaal Williams, DTs Nate Shepherd and Khalen Saunders, plus retaining all of their major contributors, have lessened some of their draft needs.
In order to get back to one of the NFC's top teams, the Saints will still need to draft well. Here is my first mock draft of the offseason.
ROUND 1 (#29 Overall)
DE - Isaiah Foskey, Notre Dame
Notre Dame Fighting Irish defensive end Isaiah Foskey (7) pressures Georgia Tech quarterback Jordan Yates (13). Mandatory Credit: Matt Cashore-USA TODAY
Cam Jordan continues to play at a high level, but is entering his 13th season and turns 34 this offseason. Carl Granderson and Tanoh Kpassagnon are nice players, but won't be mistaken for perennial Pro Bowlers anytime soon. 2021 first-round choice Payton Turner is on the verge of being a draft bust.
There are plenty of places the Saints can go with their first pick. The thought here is that they grab one of the better ends from a thin pool of edge rushers.
Foskey was a productive player for three years who put on an impressive display at the NFL Combine. He had 22 sacks, 26.5 tackles for loss, and 7 forced fumbles in his last two seasons with the Fighting Irish.
A terrific athlete, Foskey has the frame to add even more bulk at 6'5" and 264-Lbs. He can struggle to set a base against larger linemen against the run. However, he shows excellent agility to slip past blockers and has good awareness to rarely be taken out of a play.
Foskey is a natural pass rusher who should have an immediate impact. His length and effort against the run is enough to keep him from being a liability as he improves his strength in that area and expands his pass rush moves.
ROUND 2 (#40 Overall)
WR - Cedric Tillman, Tennessee
Tennessee Volunteers receiver Cedric Tillman (4) catches a pass against Alabama linebacker Will Anderson Jr. (31). Mandatory Credit: Butch Dill-USA TODAY
Reworking the contract of Michael Thomas to keep him in New Orleans was a key move. His physicality and dominance in the intermediate zones, if he stays healthy will be key for new QB Derek Carr. 2022 first-round pick Chris Olave and undrafted rookie Rashid Shaheed had wonderful years, but I look for the Saints to add another bigger receiver to complement them.
Son of former Denver Broncos WR Cedric Tillman Sr., his draft stock dipped a bit after dealing with an ankle injury all of last season. In just six games while hobbled, he still had 37 receptions for 417 yards.
Tillman's best year was in 2021, when he caught 64 passes for 1,081 yards and 12 touchdowns. His coach that season was Kodi Burns, the current WR coach for New Orleans. He was especially productive against top-tier programs Georgia and Alabama, pulling in a combined 17 receptions for 352 yards against them.
Tillman has outstanding size for the position, but he's also a physical player that makes plays in traffic. His deep speed is just average, but has elite body control and burst to the ball. He'll need to sharpen his breaks at the top of a route, but has all the necessary traits to be a playmaker at every level of a defense.
ROUND 3 (#71 Overall)
DT - Siaki Ika, Baylor
Baylor Bears defensive lineman Siaki Ika (62) is double teamed by Albany offensive linemen Kevin Singer (75) and Kobe Thomas (70). Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
New Orleans re-signed Malcolm Roach and added tackles Saunders and Shepherd in free agency. Remember that this defense ranked a lowly 24th against the run in 2022, with most of those struggles on their defensive interior. I definitely expect the Saints to draft another tackle at what's considered a deep draft class.
Ika is a monster at 6'3" and 335-Lbs. who played at LSU in 2019 and 2020 before transferring to Baylor his final two years. Despite his size, he's extremely agile, quick off the snap, and explodes into blockers. He ranked in the top-10 among all tackles at the Combine in the 3-cone drill and 20-yard shuffle.
Ika can get off balance and needs to improve his leverage against double teams. There are some questions about his weight control and ability to play a high snap count. However, his initial quickness and overall power can create penetration or collapse a pass pocket. He'll be a rotational player to start his career. One that will immediately upgrade the run defense with the upside of a disruptive every down player.
A first-round talent, don't be surprised if the Saints or another team snatched Ika off the board in the first two rounds. If he slides, it's because of the depth at this position and better sack numbers from other tackles in the draft. It could be a mistake that 31 other teams instantly regret.
Round 4 (#115 Overall)
LB - Dorian Williams, Tulane
Kansas State Wildcats wide receiver Malik Knowles (4) is tackled by Tulane Green Wave linebacker Dorian Williams (2). Mandatory Credit: Scott Sewell-USA TODAY Sports
Most New Orleans fans are hoping for another Tulane product, RB Tyjae Spears. While he would be a terrific story and great fit, Williams fills an equally large need. The Saints have zero proven LB depth behind Demario Davis and Pete Werner.
A team captain with the athleticism of a safety, Williams is fluid and explosive in open space. Just as importantly, he shows excellent instincts and is rarely out of position. He works through traffic aggressively against the run, has a natural feel in zone coverage, and the athletic ability to match up in man coverage.
A bit undersized (6'1" and 228-Lbs.), Williams could struggle against bigger blockers and looks best fit as a weakside linebacker. His instincts and sideline-to-sideline pursuit could translate to middle linebacker, especially in passing situations.
ROUND 5 (#146 Overall)
RB - Chase Brown, Illinois
Illinois Illinois Fighting Illini running back Chase Brown (2) runs the ball against Northwestern defensive back Tyson Rooks (9). Mandatory Credit: David Banks-USA TODAY Sports
The Saints signed RB Jamaal Williams to complement Alvin Kamara, alleviating a major weakness the last two years. With Kamara facing at least a six-game suspension, expect New Orleans to add another back from what's considered to be a deep class.
A transfer from Western Michigan, Brown had a combined 2,648 rushing yards and 18 touchdowns for the Illini in 2021 and 2022. Considered a high-volume grinder, Brown brings underrated burst. His 1.53 10-yard split was the fourth fastest among all backs at the Scouting Combine.
Brown is a one-cut runner with a compact frame and good power. He also shows excellent vision and foot quickness to evade tacklers. He'll need to set up blocks better and prove he can be a consistent receiving threat, but would give the team a legitimate threat between the tackles.
ROUND 5 (#165 Overall)
TE - Will Mallory, Miami (Fl.)
Miami Hurricanes tight end Will Mallory (85) makes a catch against the Pittsburgh Panthers. Mandatory Credit: Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports
New Orleans had pretty good luck with a Miami Hurricanes tight end with a mid-round pick in the 2010 NFL Draft. The Saints got a breakout performance from converted wideout Juwan Johnson at the position last year, but could look to complement him with another pass catcher at the position.
Mallory had 110 receptions for 1,507 yards and 13 touchdowns his last four seasons with the Hurricanes, including 42 catches for 538 yards in 2022. He doesn't stand out in any category, but was a consistent pass catcher and decent blocker.
Mallory will have to improve his physicality as a run blocker and get off press coverage better. However, he's a long-strider that makes plays down the seam and the route precision to be an effective intermediate target.
ROUND 7 (#227 Overall)
QB - Max Duggan, TCU
TCU Horned Frogs quarterback Max Duggan (15) throws against Michigan during the Vrbo Fiesta Bowl. Mandatory Credit: Joe Rondone-Arizona Republic
New Orleans took care of their biggest need by signing Carr, their quarterback of the immediate future. Then they reworked the contract for Jameis Winston to keep an experienced backup who knows the system. With the success of seventh-round rookie Brock Purdy in 2022, don't be surprised if the Saints take a developmental passer.
Like Purdy, Duggan was a productive Big 12 quarterback without ideal measurables. Duggan helped lead the Horned Frogs to unprecedented levels when reaching the National Championship Game. He had an outstanding four-year career that culminated with 3,698 passing yards, 32 passing touchdowns, 9 rushing scores, and just 8 interceptions in 2022.
Duggan has below-average size and arm strength. However, he's a tough athlete with a great feel for the game, goes through his progressions patiently, and makes plays with his arm or legs with the game on the line.
ROUND 7 (#257 Overall)
RB - Jaleel McLaughlin, Youngstown State
Youngstown State Penguins running back Jaleel McLaughlin (8) runs the ball against the Kentucky Wildcats. Mandatory Credit: Jordan Prather-USA TODAY Sports
New Orleans has historically had great luck with late round picks and undrafted prospects. The most recent example is WR Rashid Shaheed, an undrafted rookie in 2022 out of Weber State.
Diminutive in size (5'7" and 187-Lbs.), McLaughlin was huge in production. He graduated as the NCAA all-time rushing leader with 8,166 yards, which included 32 touchdowns in three seasons at Youngstown State.
A two-time high school state sprint champion, McLaughlin also brings terrific vision to go along with instant acceleration. He won't be an every down back, so will have to prove he can return kicks and be a receiving threat to stick on a roster.
Shaheed, Deonte Harty (Assumption College), Khiry Robinson (West Texas A&M), Chris Ivory (Tiffin), and Marques Colston (Hofstra) went from little-known prospects from little-known schools to productive New Orleans careers. McLaughlin, who could be just the third Youngstown State player to be drafted, may add his name to that list.
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