Hubbard’s Mock Draft 3.0

Saints address their biggest need in round one.

The NFL Draft is just over a week away now, and a lot of prospect visits are wrapping up, so we have a bit of an idea about what positions each team is eyeing as we get closer to draft day.

The New Orleans Saints main visitors have been offensive and defensive linemen along with some pass catchers, so that should tell us where their mind’s at going into this thing, but truly, you never know what’s going to happen.

Despite that, I’m going to take a stab at trying to figure out what the Saints will do in this year’s NFL Draft.

01.14 – Olu Fashanu, OT, Penn State

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In my last two mock drafts, I got a little cute with the Saints first round pick, but this time, I’m being sensible and drafting the best OT left on the board, Olu Fashanu.

Fashanu was a two-year starter for the Nittany Lions, and according to PFF, he didn’t allow a single sack in his career. He fills the Saints biggest position of need early in the draft, and if he falls to No. 14, he needs to be the pick.

02.45 – Keon Coleman, WR, Florida State

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Ever since I watched Keon Coleman destroy LSU’s secondary in the season opener, I’ve been in love with him as a prospect. He’s 6-foot-3, 213-pounds and is a physical specimen and he visited with the Saints in a top-30 visit.

Looking at his measurables, he’s very comparable to Michael Thomas, who he’d be replacing in this offense. Coming out of college, he’s the same height and is one pound heavier than Thomas, runs .04 second slower, jumps three inches higher and has a one-inch shorter broad jump.

The Saints need to find another pass catcher in this draft after losing Thomas, and Coleman could fit his role quite nicely.

03.75 via trade with Chicago – Marshawn Kneeland, ED, Western Michigan

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We all know a Saints trade up is inevitable, it’s just a question of when it’s going to happen. Since they have such a big gap between their second and fifth round picks, I feel like this was a great spot to move up and get a guy they hosted not too long ago.

Kneeland played at Western Michigan and was a beast off the edge, totaling 38 tackles, 37 pressures, 28 hurries and six sacks in 2023. His pass rush numbers are pretty solid, but he’s also a very good run defender off the edge. He ranked 10th among all D1 edge rushers with 100+ snaps in terms of run defense grade with an 83.4 according to PFF.

One reason Cam Jordan has been considered one of the best edges in the NFL for so long is because he’s a great run defender as well as a great pass rusher. He’s obviously beginning to decline, but he could mentor Kneeland for at least another season or two before he retires or moves on.

05.168 – Dylan Laube, RB, New Hampshire

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Since I traded both picks 150 and 175 (as well as a 2025 third) to move up for Kneeland, the Saints had to wait until pick 168 to select again, and they select Dylan Laube, a running back from New Hampshire.

Laube is a very experienced player, playing five seasons at New Hampshire where he totaled 2,692 rushing yards, 708 receiving yards and 35 total TD’s. Laube has been rising up draft boards recently after he showed his route running abilities at the NFL Combine.

With Alvin Kamara’s future with the Saints in question and the Jamaal Williams experiment not really working out, I wouldn’t be surprised if the Saints drafted a RB for the second consecutive season.

05.170 – Erick All, TE, Iowa

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The Saints add another pass catcher in this draft, selecting Iowa tight end, Erick All.

All’s had an up and down career. He began his career at Michigan where he caught just 13 passes for 92 yards in his first two seasons, but in 2021, All caught 38 balls for 437 yards. Unfortunately, in 2022, All only played in three games due to injury before transferring to Iowa last season. In his first season with the Hawkeyes, All caught 21 passes for 299 yards and three touchdowns in seven games and was their leading receiver when he tore his ACL and missed the rest of the season.

The Saints could use another tight end in this draft, and All was the best one on the board at this pick. If he can stay healthy, he has a lot of upside for a fifth rounder.

06.180 – Jordan Jefferson, DI, LSU

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The Saints make another trade, this time moving picks 199 and 239 to move up to 180 and select LSU DT, Jordan Jefferson.

This may be a bit of a homer pick, but Jefferson is a solid player. In 2023, Jefferson recorded seven pressures and three sacks in 203 pass rush snaps, but he really excelled in stopping the run. Plus, he led all DT’s in bench press reps at the combine.

At this point in the draft, you’re trying to find guys who have some upside, and with the right coaching, Jefferson could become a solid role player in the NFL.

06.190 – Johnny Dixon, CB, Penn State

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After trading 199 and 239, the Saints had just one pick left in this draft, and they use it on Penn State cornerback, Johnny Dixon.

The 6-foot, 191-pound corner has 25 starts in his five-year career and was a solid corner for the Nittany Lions. In 2023, Dixon allowed 21 catches for 244 yards and zero touchdowns while bringing in one pick. He also tallied five sacks on the season.

His major issue is tackling. He missed eight tackles to just 20 tackles on the season. With the right coaching, he can get better in that area, so it’s not a huge concern.