New Orleans Saints Mock Draft: Saints Should Eye Can't-Miss Offensive Tackle In First Round Of 2024 NFL Draft

The New Orleans Saints are going to be tough to predict in the 2024 NFL Draft, but this mock draft explores what we feel they should do, if given the chance. Led by drafting Penn State OT Olu Fashanu.

Nov 4, 2023; College Park, Maryland, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions offensive lineman Olumuyiwa / Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports

Predicting what NFL teams will do in the annual NFL Draft is nearly impossible. There are too many moving parts, unknowns and circulating questions. With exactly a week left until the selection process gets under way, predictions will be put aside for this mock draft. This mock instead will focus on what Saints News Network would like to see the New Orleans Saints do over their three days of picks.

This mock will include some of the favorite names from this year's draft and display how the Saints could get them to New Orleans, given current draft projections. Starting off with rebuilding the offensive line, even if it means moving a former first-round pick to another position or to another team.

Round 1, Pick 14: Olu Fashanu, OT, Penn State

Mar 3, 2024; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Penn State offensive lineman Olu Fashanu (OL18) during the 2024 / Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Yes, Fashanu is turning into one of the chalk picks of the this year's NFL Draft. But that should not diminish his value at No. 14 overall for the Saints. New Orleans has two options at offensive line early in the first round when it comes to archetypes. They could go with Fashanu, a pure left tackle who is an outstanding pass protector but has development left ahead of him in the run game. Or they could go with a more versatile options like Washington's Troy Fautanu or Oregon State's Taliese Fuaga. Both of which would immediately fit the teams' new wide zone scheme as well.

In this mock, the pure left tackle value is far too strong to pass up here. While versatility allows you to see how other players like former starting left tackle Trevor Penning pan out, adding a perennial All-Pro talent to one of the game's most important positions is far too great an opportunity to ignore.

Round 2, Pick 45: Tyler Nubin, S, Minnesota

Nov 27, 2021; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Gophers defensive back Tyler Nubin (27) and / Harrison Barden-USA TODAY Sports

Who hates a good reunion? With this pick, the Saints bring back together the Minnesota safety tandem of Nubin and last year's fifth-round selection Jordan Howden. This is a move for now as well as a one for the future. While Howden continues to learn behind starting safety Tyrann Matheiu, the Saints could develop he and Nubin into their future safety duo.

In the meanwhile, Nubin would be able to fill the role at the position left open after the departure of Marcus Maye, who played a greater box role for the team at safety. Nubin would enter training camp in competition with veteran defensive back Johnathan Abram, who was stellar as the starter opposite Mathieu the last two games of the season.

Round 3, Pick 81 (Via WAS): Malachi Corley, WR, Western Kentucky

Dec 18, 2023; Charlotte, NC, USA; Western Kentucky Hilltoppers wide receiver Malachi Corley (11) / Jim Dedmon-USA TODAY Sports

TRADE: NO sends No. 168, No. 170 and a 2025 third-round selection. SEA sends No. 81.

Just can not quit this one. Corley is the missing piece to the Saints' offensive attack. He can run routes from just about anywhere but particularly does well in the slot. He leads the wideout position in this year's draft class in avoided tackle percentage forced and is among the top when it comes to yards after catch per reception.

Corley is the type of player that can turn a 7-yard slant pass and catch in to a 60+ yard catch and run. That is exactly the kind of juice New Orleans is missing on the offense. He would pair well immediately with the new offensive system by taking on a Deebo Samuel-like role.

Round 5, Pick 150: Khristian Boyd, DT, Northern Iowa

Northern Iowa defensive lineman Khristian Boyd (99) poses for a photo during the Panthers football / Joseph Cress/Iowa City Press-Citizen via

Some may be down on this selection because Boyd does not cross the beloved RAS threshold. But this is a situation wherein size is paramount. At 6-foot-2 and 326 pounds Boyd is a force in the middle of a defensive line. For a team that did not take the steps forward it had anticipated in the run game last year, adding Boyd could make a ton of sense. He has also flashed promise as a pass rusher and the Saints had him in on a Top-30 visit earlier in the draft process.

Round 5, Pick 158 (Via MIA): Christian Jones, OT, Texas

Feb 1, 2024; Mobile, AL, USA; American offensive lineman Christian Jones of Texas (70) talks with / Vasha Hunt-USA TODAY Sports

TRADE: NO sends Nos. 190 and 199. MIA sends No. 152

One of the sleeper offensive tackles in this year's draft, Jones was a multi-year starter on the Texas Longhorns offensive line. With several games at both right and left tackles in a zone run scheme, moving up to grab Jones is a worthwhile investment. At 6-foot-5 and 305 pounds, Jones moves well (5.04 40 yard dash time) and has an impressive motor to go along with 34.5-inch arms and good play strength.

While the Saints addressed their left tackle spot with Fashanu in the first round, Jones can help maintain depth and spot start at right tackle if needed. This increases the chances of of moving Penning around if necessary.

Round 5, Pick 175: Tip Reiman, TE, Illinois

Nov 25, 2023; Champaign, Illinois, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini tight end Tip Reiman (89) is / Ron Johnson-USA TODAY Sports

There are some solid tight ends in this class even if there is only one that everyone is talking about. Reiman is a road grater of a blocker but has the frame to help out in the red zone as well. He anchors remarkably well as a tight end and has a lot of power in his base when engaged with a defender. He was a team captain in 2023 with Illinois.

Reiman still has a lot of experience to gather ahead of him, but with one of the league's best tight ends coaches in Clancy Barone at the Saints facility, there is a lot that can be molded with such promising material. For his rookie season, he could serve as a true-Y blocking tight end in 12-personnel. That complements Juwan Johnson and Foster Moreau by allowing them to be a bit more versatile and impactful in the passing game.

Round 7, Pick 239: Trey Taylor, S, Air Force

Nov 5, 2022; Arlington, Texas, USA; Air Force Falcons safety Trey Taylor (7) celebrates a sack of / Danny Wild-USA TODAY Sports

It is very rare that a Jim Thrope award winner gets seventh-round buzz. But unfortunately, Taylor's draft stock is massively impacted by the fact that he attended Air Force for his collegiate playing years. At 6-foot, 206 pounds with good instincts and anticipation, Taylor is a versatile piece reminiscent of former Saints defensive back P.J. Williams.

Per Pro Football Focus, Taylor was all over the place in 2023. They have him charted with 200 snaps as a deep safety, 327 in the box and 160 snaps in the slot. That type of versatility will certianly capture the attention of head coach Dennis Allen who appreciates positional flexibility. Along with his ability to move about, he also produced. He finished his collegiate days with 6 career interceptions, 19 pass break ups, 11 tackles for a loss and 2.5 sacks.

Taylor could be a steal at this spot of the draft as an immediately contributing special teamer that could land a role all over Allen's defense in due time.