The NFL combine is complete, and just like every year, some players have seen their draft stock fall, and some have seen a rise. This has begun to affect many mock drafts around the NFL, and for the New Orleans Saints, it has changed who could be available at 8. In my 1.0 mock draft, I had the Saints selecting Jeremiyah Love, but the odds of him dropping that far are much lower now. That is disappointing for New Orleans, but focusing on the good news, it seems that one of the top picks is starting
to fall, which is great news for the Saints.
Round 1, Pick 8 – DL Rueben Bain Jr.
One of, if not the, top storylines of the NFL Draft is Miami defensive lineman Rueben Bain’s arm length. Similar to last year and Will Campbell, Bain’s arms are extremely undersized and would be a massive outlier for the NFL. At the combine, he measured at sub 30-inch arms. This, combined with not testing at the combine (and other defensive players having excellent performances), could easily drop Bain Jr. in the first round. The difference between Campbell and Bain Jr. is that the defensive lineman’s tape from last season consistently shows pure, consistent dominance.
At Miami, Bain Jr. was a part of a National Championship-level defense, and he was the best player. Off the edge, he wins with bend around offensive tackles, uses his hands really well, and plays with such power that it catches any offensive lineman by surprise. Bain Jr. can also move throughout the defensive line, playing on the edge or sliding into the interior. As a run defender, he is exceptional, and the effort he shows will serve as an example for future coaches to use with younger players. In the NFL, his arm length issues will show up at times, but Bain Jr.’s ability to use his hands well will allow him to overcome them, and he can win in a number of ways.
For the Saints, this is a mix of best-player-available, a need, and a focus on upgrading the defense. Adding Bain Jr. to a defensive line with Chase Young, Carl Granderson, Cam Jordan, and Bryan Bresee would be scary for other teams. In Staley’s scheme, Bain could be that 4-3 EDGE across from Young, and in the 3-4 sets, he can be a 4-tech DT (the defensive ends next to the nose tackle) or even OLB. Bain Jr. also demands so much attention, which would open up Young on the other side.
Round 2, Pick 42 – WR Chris Bell
Time to reunite Tyler Shough with his former college teammate. Louisville WR Chris Bell is a big play waiting to happen. When he has the ball in his hands, he can blast right past defenders and is extremely tough to tackle. In the air, Bell can adjust to any throw, secures catches really well, and can deal with physicality in contested situations. Bell is also a deep threat at all times that defenses have to take into consideration throughout the game. He has the talent, stats, and measurables to go in the first round, but due to a torn ACL in the middle of the season, a second-round pick is much more likely now. At the combine, Bell mentioned that he is set to be ready for the offseason camps, which would be excellent news for the Saints.
Right away, Bell would be slotted next to Devaughn Vele and Chris Olave in the lineup. Bell can play in the slot and outside, which is something the coaching staff values, and by adding Bell, the Saints can move Olave, Bell, and Vele everywhere on the field. The scary side of this selection is the hope that Bell is back to his athletic self, because it’s such a massive part of his game. If the team doctors sign off on it, then reuniting Shough with one of his favorite targets from the 2024 season sounds like an excellent idea.
Round 3, Pick 73 – RB Mike Washington Jr.
Sticking with investing in the offense around Shough, the Saints still have a need at RB. Hopefully, they can bring someone in, but realistically, getting Kenneth Walker is going to be very expensive, and Travis Etienne is not a young/long-term option. So, if they also miss out on Jeremiyah Love in the first round, Mike Washington Jr. would be an excellent day 2 option. At the combine, Washington Jr. was one of the best performers of the event. He was the fastest RB (4.33 40-yard dash), hit every athletic test out of the park, and he measured in at 6-foot-1, 223 lbs. The speed and strength that were seen at the combine clearly show up on tape. He has blistering speed that makes any run a potential for a big play, and instead of trying to juke out defenders, Washington Jr. would rather just run through them. Beyond his clear athletic traits, Washington Jr. also has great vision, which he pairs with some agility in the backfield to find space on every play. Also, he is a real threat in the pass game.
Washington Jr. could see a rise on draft day, and where the Saints are currently selecting could be the cieling. The Arkansas RB adds something different from any RB currently on the roster with a mix of speed and power. He was also a Senior Bowl prospect and is the highest-graded (10.0) RB in RAS score among all RB prospects since 1987.
Round 3, Pick 96 (Trade) – DT Darrell Jackson Jr.
A trade!
With the Saints having a good amount of day 3 picks, they have enough ammo to jump back up into the top-100 to get a player falling, and the perfect scenario showed up in this mock. Sending #132, #149, and a future 5th round pick to the Seattle Seahawks to jump up to #96 to select Florida State DT Darrell Jackson Jr. Although the Saints just drafted a DT (Vernon Broughton) in the third round last year, Jackson Jr. is a completely different player. At 6-foot-5, 315 lbs, and 35-inch arms, Jackson Jr. is what the Saints need at nose tackle. He has the ability to take up space, fill the gaps to prevent the run, use his long arms to reach and stop RBs from going past him, and the strenght to deal with double teams and push back offensive linemen. Jackson Jr. is also not a bad pass rusher, but he would need to improve to really reach his potential.
On the Saints’, Jackson Jr. would be able to develop behind Davon Godchaux, come in when needed, and take over as soon as he finds his footing. Also, adding a massive DT like Jackson Jr. to the roster opens up better opportunities for the defensive linemen around him, especially Bain Jr.
Round 4, Pick 136 – OG Jalen Farmer
An offensive lineman had to be selected somewhere, and here is where that happened. Hopefully, before this point, the Saints have fixed LG, but RG should also have some options for next season. Cesar Ruiz is not a guarantee, so getting a rookie to put behind him to develop a bit should be the plan, and in this case, it’s Kentucky RG Jalen Farmer. Being 21, Farmer is a developmental prospect who will not do everything correctly in year 1, but he can start right away if he wins a competition during the offseason. He has the strength to hold up in pass protection and is a people mover in the run game. Adding that to his athleticism and 34-inch arms, he could be a prospect the Saints fall in love with.
Round 5, Pick 171 – CB Daylen Everette
In the 5th round, I could have gone in a couple of directions, but CB is a position I do not feel comfortable with yet for the Saints. At least, New Orleans needs to add one outside CB to the depth chart from the draft, and the best available one was Daylen Everette. Another combine standout, running a 4.38 on the 40-yard dash at 6-foot-1, Everette would be a very good fit on the Saints’ defense. He is good enough in both man and zone, has the athleticism to keep up with faster WRs, and is really good at breaking on the ball to stop the catch or intercept the ball. He is also a good run defender and can be utilized as a blitzer.
Round 6, Pick 190 – TE Marlin Klein
Last is back to the offense, and because WR was already addressed, getting another TE is the focus here. There were some great options available, but in the end, Michigan’s Marlin Klein is the selection. Klein would become the best blocking TE on the roster right away, and with his 4.61 speed, he is also a recieving option in the passing game. Still, in every area, Klein is developing. He only has 36 receptions in college. But the potential is there, especially at 6-foot-6.
