It’s a wonderful moment to review which players might be available because top prospects in the 2024 NFL draft are already debating whether to stay in school or go pro, and the New Orleans Saints, who have lost their previous two games, might be in a position to add a difference-maker.
After their recent setbacks, the Saints are expected to select at No. 12 overall, which means they will have their choice of elite college players. And they’ll require assistance.
They require improvements at quarterback, in the skill positions, and throughout the offensive and defensive lines. Not enough has been shown by Derek Carr to prevent the Saints from considering all of their alternatives.
1
QB Jayden Daniels, LSU
Daniels, who has 40 touchdown passes in just 12 games, has been the most exciting player in college football this season. With four interceptions, he has only mishandled the ball seven times in 3,812 yards of passing. He ignites the field in a way the Saints haven’t seen fit.
2
DE Jared Verse, Florida State
Verse fits the prototype the Saints look for at defensive end (6-foot-4 and 260 pounds), but he brings real speed off the edge that nobody on their roster can match. He’s an effective pressure player with 16 sacks and 26.5 tackles for loss in two years at Florida State. The Saints badly need more juice in their pass rush off the edge.
3
DT Jer’Zhan Newton, Illinois
Since Newton regularly applies pressure up the middle (22.5 tackles for loss and 13 sacks over the previous two years) and is a dependable defender against the run, which is a big weakness for the Saints defense, he would be a great tag-team partner for Bryan Bresee.
It’s critical to keep adding younger players to the position since they haven’t gotten enough out of experienced free agents Nathan Shepherd and Khalen Saunders.
4
TE Brock Bowers, Georgia
Juwan Johnson’s extension and Foster Moreau’s signing cost the Saints a lot of money, yet between them, the tight ends have only managed 29 catches, 257 yards, and two touchdown grabs.
That is insufficient. Although Bowers isn’t well-known for his blocking, he is capable of continuing to play that position on the field. In his three years at Georgia, he has amassed an astounding 63.7 receiving yards per game on average.
5
OL Graham Barton, Duke
Who will start for the Saints at left guard and left tackle in 2019? Barton could assist in addressing one of those queries.
After beginning his career at center and switching to left tackle, he offers the Saints positional flexibility along with his size (6 feet, 5 inches, 314 pounds).
He might play guard rather well. James Hurst has lost his footing, Trevor Penning can’t hold down a starting position, and Andrus Peat is a free agent.
6
DE Laiatu Latu, UCLA
Latu can play, but he needs to improve on his pre-draft weigh-ins. At 6-foot-4 and 265 pounds, he appears slender, but that could just mean he can gain more muscle.
In his two years at UCLA, he has produced 34 tackles for loss, 23.5 sacks, five forced fumbles, and two interceptions. He gives the Saints the playmaking ability they lack on the edge.
7
LT Patrick Paul, Houston
Over the course of his five-year Houston career, Paul has played approximately 3,000 snaps at left tackle, increasing his pass protection each season and reducing his number of penalties.
In the first round, it would make sense if the Saints didn’t think Trevor Penning would recover to take over as the starting left tackle.
8
DE Bralen Trice, Washington
At 6-foot-4 and 274 pounds, Trice is a heavy-set defensive end that resembles Cameron Jordan more than anybody else in this class. That fact alone will make the Saints take notice of him.
With 14 sacks and 20.5 tackles for loss in his last 25 games, he has played in some really amazing games in the past few years, which only serves to increase his value.
9
LT Jordan Morgan, Arizona
If the Saints choose to retain Penning outside at left tackle, Morgan (6-foot-6 and 320 pounds) has the size to kick inside to guard, but he might benefit from his more seasoned play at a higher level of collegiate competition. In the trenches, the Saints need to get better, especially on the left side of their line.
10
DT Leonard Taylor, Miami
Despite his modest stats (6 sacks and 22.5 tackles for loss in 28 games), Taylor may still have more to give. He’s built for the NFL at 6-foot-3 and 305 pounds with a lightning-quick first step. He reminds me a lot of the former Louisville standout Sheldon Rankins.
