The New Orleans Saints have their quarterback of the future in Tyler Shough, and every mock draft is trying to build a competent roster around him. After missing the playoffs every year since Drew Brees called it a career, this organization finally has the passer it needs to return to the postseason. However, while the quarterback is easily the most important position in football, you still need elite players at other positions to win football games.
With this in mind, Chad Reuter of NFL.com believes the New Orleans Saitns will select Ohio State safety Caleb Downs with the eighth-overall pick. Downs, a Junior, is an elite talent and one of the top players in the draft, regardless of position and should make an immediate impact for this team if this mock comes to fruition.
“Downs might not be the fastest defensive back in the league, based on his game tape, but his intelligence and instincts more than make up for whatever slight amount of time he loses over distance,” Reuter writes. “Teams should not allow an apparent lack of pure speed to drop his stock, like what seemingly happened with eventual All-Pro Kyle Hamilton.”
Saints Select Caleb Downs In Latest Mock Draft
Most safeties aren’t in the running to be top-10 picks, but most safeties aren’t Caleb Downs. The Ohio State product truly can do everything and perform at a high level. Downs is perhaps most exciting when playing in the box, as he doesn’t shy away from contact and hits like a linebacker. The potential top-10 pick has the size to stick with tight ends in coverage, the strength to take down running backs in the box, and the football IQ to take the most direct route to the ball carrier and prevent yards before contact. While he won’t win any track meets, he has enough speed to meet running backs on the edge on outside runs and prevent big gains.
Of course, he’s more than just a glorified linebacker, as Downs is more than capable of dropping into zones and taking away the deep part of the field. The safety has a strong nose for the ball with the ability to diagnose route patterns and break on the ball before the quarterback releases the pass. This high level of anticipation is vital in today’s pass-heavy NFL. A player with this level of versatility would help any NFL team, but how would he fit with the Saints?
Fit on the Saints
The New Orleans Saints currently have two veterans in Justin Reid and Julian Blackmon atop the safety depth chart. While both players are solid starters when healthy, they’re not long-term options. Reid is entering his age-29 season, and injuries limited Blackmon to just one game last year.
The Saints need a long-term option at the safety position, and that’s exactly what they get in this mock draft. Caleb Downs has the potential to start right away and could be a decade-long fixture in this defense. That easily justifies a top-10 pick, and his presence could help New Orleans win the NFC South next year.