Saints Nation Mock Draft 2.0

I’m going to do things a little different from my version 1.0. First, I’m going to use the Fanspeak Draft Simulator to go 7 rounds and like NOLA.com I’ll present to you only my Saints picks. Unlike NOLA.com I won’t give you a slideshow (you’re welcome)  and I’m going to give you more information than they do. I’ll list the best player available (according to Fanspeak’s rankings) and the players I considered before making my selection. This will be more fun, especially now that the Saints have more picks and we’re more educated on their needs. Here goes:

1st round, 13th pick: Brandon Scherff, T/G, Iowa

Best player available: Alvin Dupree, DE, Kentucky

Players I also considered at this pick: DE Alvin Dupree, CB Trae Waynes

I won’t give you the players selected ahead on the other picks, but I will for this selection. The order was: Winston, Fowler, Williams, Cooper, Gregory, Beasley, Brown, Collins, White, Mariota, Shelton and Ray. This is pretty much the worst case scenario for me because all the high end pass rushers are gone. As much as it kills me to select an offensive player, the Saints desperately need tackle depth and Scherff can compete for a starting spot at left guard, too. Trae Waynes is another player I really considered here, but with Brandon Browner in the mix the need for o-line is higher. I will say I’ve run this simulation many times and I’ve had Beasley drop to 13 so that’s my choice if it happens.

1st round, 31st pick: Eli Harold, OLB/DE, Virginia

Best player available: Michael Bennett, DT, Ohio State

Players I also considered at this pick: DT Michael Bennett, CB Jalen Collins, OLB Hau’Oli Kikaha, ILB Benardrick McKinney, ILB Denzel Perryman

I got my pass rusher. Harold needs to adds weight but he’s otherwise fast, strong for his size and a perfect fill in for Junior Galette if he gets suspended (or traded/cut). It was hard to pass on McKinney, though, who I’m hoping drops to me in the 2nd round.

2nd round, 47th pick: Benardrick McKinney, ILB, Mississippi State

Best player available: Melvin Gordon, RB, Wisconsin

Players I also considered at this pick: DT Mario Edwards, CB Eric Rowe, G Tre Jackson, ILB Paul Dawson, TE Maxx Williams

Well this draft is officially unrealistic. Odds of Sean Payton taking two linebackers in a draft, let alone with two of his first three picks? Forget it. I was shocked McKinney dropped to here, though, and it’s a completely different position from Harold. I don’t trust Ellerbe or Hawthorne to stay healthy and or perform, so I expect McKinney to start for the Saints in 2015 if drafted.

3rd round, 75th pick: Kevin Johnson, CB, Wake Forest

BPA: Jeremiah Poutasi, G, Utah

Others Considered: WR Sammie Coates, CB Alex Carter, WR Breshad Perriman, WR, Tyler Lockett

Corner is in better shape with a real starter in Brandon Browner, but what happens if Browner and/or Lewis go down? No guarantees Delvin Breaux will amount to anything and I’m not holding my breath on Stanley Jean-Baptiste and Brian Dixon. Johnson isn’t good enough in run support to start right away but as a reserve corner he can play in the nickel or dime for sure. He moves very well, has excellent cover skills and has the size the Saints covet at this position. Depth at corner is a must.

3rd round, 78th pick: Tyler Lockett, WR, Kansas State

BPA: Poutasi

Others considered: WR Sammie Coates, WR Breshad Perriman

The Saints don’t pick for a while after this so I wanted to nail this one and get a receiver. I considered some of the big and fast receivers that are a little raw in Coates and Perriman – but the Saints already have that in Seantavius Jones and Brandon Coleman. So I went with Lockett. He’s extremely fast, high character, has great hands… he’s just a little small. This is the perfect Kenny Stills replacement.

5th round, 140th pick: Ben Koyack, TE, Notre Dame

BPA: Ben Koyack, TE, Notre Dame

Others considered: CB Lorenzo Doss, T Rob Havenstein, TE Tyler Kroft

With Jimmy Graham gone the Saints will need competition at tight end and. Koyack is a beast blocker and if the Saints commit to running with Mark Ingram more, this is a guy they’ll want in the mix. He’s also a better receiver than some think.

5th round, 146th pick: Austin Shepherd, T, Alabama

BPA: Vince Mayle, WR, Washington State

Others Considered: DT Xavier Williams, DT Louis Trinca-Pasat, CB Quandre Diggs

The Saints need help at tackle. Shepherd gives them depth. Bryce Harris, move on over.

6th round, 171st pick: Christian Covington, DT, Rice

BPA: E. J. Bibbs, TE, Iowa State

Others Considered: He’s coming off a major injury but he’s loaded with talent and has that versatility to move around which Sean Payton loves. He’s the perfect replacement for Tyrunn Walker.

7th round, 205th pick: Terrence Magee, RB, LSU

BPA: Terrence Magee, RB, LSU

Others Considered: QB Shane Carden, DE Shaquille Riddick, RB Zach Zenner, CB Imoan Claiborne, DT Chucky Hunter, DT Leterrius Walton

Homer pick, but he was the best available. The Saints lost Cadet and will probably replace him with another undrafted rookie, but Magee is a good pass catcher.