The NFL Draft is less than two days away and every Tom, Dick and Harry is filling up the Internet with their mock drafts.
So, why should I be different?
With that said, I have made my mock draft for the New Orleans Saints and want to share my selections. However, I did put rules in place so I would not manipulate my selections in getting the highest grade possible.
My rules were no trades, no repeat positions and take the highest player on the board in the first round regardless of position. Also, I let the simulator cycle through three drafts just to shuffle the deck, and I used the consensus of player rankings from ESPN, The Athletic, Pro Football Network and Pro Football Focus.
Here we go.
First round, pick 8: Arvell Reese, edge, Ohio State (6-foot-4, 241 pounds). I was shocked when Reese was at the top of the board when it was time to pick for the Saints.
While some draft boards have him as the top-rated player, he was ranked No. 3 in the composite I used, and he was also listed as an edge rusher. Reese is more of a hybrid, able to rush the passer and play as an off-ball linebacker. I do not expect him to be there when the Saints do pick, but for this exercise he was, and the value was too good to pass up.
Second round, pick 42: Denzel Boston, wide receiver, Washington (6-4, 212). Boston was at the top of the board and filled a position of need for the Saints. He does not have blazing speed, but he is that big-body receiver to compliment Chris Olave and make those tough catches to move the chains. Great hands and hard to tackle are two attributes which made him the choice here.
Third round, pick 73: Gennings Dunker, offensive lineman, Iowa (6-5, 319). Dunker played tackle at Iowa, but he projects at guard in the NFL. Dunker is excellent in zone blocking and takes sound angles and sinks his hips well. He also has strong hands, and he is not easy for defenders to shake in the trenches.
Fourth round, pick 132: Kyle Louis, linebacker, Pittsburgh (6-0, 220). I know I said no repeat positions, and even though Reese is a linebacker, he was listed as an edge player on the composite.
Yes, he is a bit on the small side but so is Saints linebacker Isaiah Stalbird. In fact, they are the same type of player in terms of what they can do on a football field. Louis has great quickness and takes on blocks well for his size. Also, with how the Saints struggled on special teams last year, Louis can help with coverage units.
Fourth round, pick 136: Devon Marshall, cornerback, North Carolina State (5-10, 197). Another defender on the small side but he can play at nickel. He also has good awareness in zone schemes and knows how to crowd receivers in recovery. With his speed and explosion, here is another player who can make an impact on special teams.
Fifth round, pick 150: Seth McGowan, running back, Kentucky (6-1, 215). McGowan does have a checkered past and spent three months in jail for robbery in 2021 while at Oklahoma. After being dismissed from OU, he went to a JUCO, got his life on track, and rushed for nearly 2,000 yards and 18 touchdowns in three seasons at Kentucky.
He does not have the blazing speed clocking in at a 4.49 40-time, but with Kendre Miller, Devin Neal, and Alvin Kamara all recovering from injuries, the Saints could use another body in the running back room.
Fifth round, pick 172: Sam Roush, tight end, Stanford (6-6, 267): He will need to improve as a blocker, but he has a good feel for finding open spots in opposing secondaries. He did have 49 receptions but had four drops last season and is rated with average hands. However, at this point in the draft he is worth the selection.
Sixth round, pick 190: Dontay Corleone, defensive tackle, Cincinnati (6-1, 340): He did deal with blood clots in 2024, but if his medical report checks out, the Saints could get a solid rotational player for their defensive line. He is a squatty run-down defender who is rarely knocked to the ground. He might need to improve his explosiveness but works well in short areas and could be a solid backup at nose tackle.
Well, there it is, my mock draft for the Saints. I received an A for my overall grade, so I did all right. Let us hope the Saints do all right in a few weeks and continue to build this team back into a winner.
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Teddy Renois is an award-winning Sports Journalist. He covered Nicholls Athletics from 1999 to 2017.