Picking at No. 11, the New Orleans Saints are a little too accustomed to these mid-to-high draft picks of late. There’s been a nice little playoff drought in New Orleans, a drought long enough to make you wonder if a complete rebuild might be in order. The team isn’t ready for that and head coach Sean Payton isn’t prepared to ship Drew Brees out of town just yet when he can still throw for 5,000 yards and 30 touchdowns.
I don’t factor in trades before they happen, but there’s a good chance I’ll have to redo this draft if the Saints bring in Malcolm Butler at corner from the New England Patriots. If they do, the Pats will probably get their No. 32 pick back they shipped to New Orleans for Brandin Cooks.
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Round 1, Pick 11: Derek Barnett, DE, Tennessee
2016: 56 tackles, 19 for a loss, 13 sacks
The Saints, sitting at No. 11 and doing absolutely nothing, are in prime position to get one of the best players in the draft. By my mock drafting, that means Derek Barnett, my No. 1 rated defensive end, falls right into their lap. The Saints have worked hard in free agency this season to improve their defense, bringing in middle linebacker A.J. Klein from the Carolina Panthers, outside linebacker Alex Okafor from the Arizona Cardinals and inside linebacker Manti Te’o from the Los Angeles Chargers. But nothing they do will shore up that unit than drafting Barnett, who will be a danger to post double-digit sacks as a rookie.
Round 1, Pick 32: Adoree Jackson, CB USC
2016: 55 tackles, two for a loss, 11 pass defenses, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery, five interceptions, 26 kick returns, 767 yards, two touchdowns, 20 punt returns, 315 yards, two touchdowns, two catches, 76 yards, one touchdown, 7 rushes, 51 yards
Yeah, I know I originally had a different pick here in my Mock Draft 2.0, but such is the monster I’m trying to wrangle here. I changed the Saints pick in that original draft article if you want to check to Jackson, who should make head coach Sean Payton’s eyes bug out with his capabilities in all three phases of the game.
Round 2, Pick 42: Tyus Bowser, OLB, Houston
2016: 47 tackles, 12 for a loss, 8.5 sacks, four passes defended, one forced fumble
At 6-3 and 240, Bowser gives the Saints a lot of options at outside linebacker. He has the skillset to play the position conventionally, or to be a stand-up pass rusher on third downs.
Round 3, Pick 76: Carlos Henderson, WR, Louisiana Tech
2016: 82 catches, 1,535 yards, 19 touchdowns, 14 rushes, 133 yards, two touchdowns
The Saints have an ability to find wide receivers at any level in the draft and beyond. Willie Snead and Michael Thomas have the starting outside spots nailed down, but the Saints need to develop a solid slot guy that can scare the shit out of safeties and nickle corners. Henderson could become that guy after an insane level of production his junior season and averaging over 18.7 yards per catch over his entire NCAA football career.
Round 3, Pick 103: Tyler Orlosky, Center, West Virginia
Orlosky has the ability to play both guard and center, adding depth to a New Orleans offensive line tasked with keeping Drew Brees healthy in his twilight NFL years. Orlosky is a two-time All-Big 12 selection and coming from West Virginia’s high-powered offense, should have no trouble adapting to Sean Payton’s style of NFL playcalling.
Round 6, Pick 196: Josh Carraway, DE, TCU
2016: 49 tackles, 11 for a loss, eight sacks, one forced fumble
After sitting for a long while and missing out on the draft’s fourth and fifth rounds, the Saints go with the best player on their board. Carraway, at 6-4, 250, could be a passrusher with his hand in the ground or standing up at outside linebacker.
Round 7, Pick 229: Tanner Vallejo, ILB, Boise State
2016: 69 tackles, six for a loss, one sack
Vallejo had an injury-shortened 2016 campaign, but in the 6-1, 223 linebacker the Saints should have an immediate contributor on special teams and depth at inside linebacker.
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