The New Orleans Saints were well-represented at the Texas Longhorns pro day, per Senior Bowl director Jim Nagy, who says the team’s defensive line and linebackers coaches were in attendance. That likely means Saints assistants Todd Grantham (defensive line) and Michael Hodges (linebackers), though Adam Gristick (assistant defensive line) and Brian Young (pass rush specialist) may have also made the trip. Either way, we can tell which positions they were most interested in.
So which 2024 draft prospects were on their radar? Texas defensive tackle Byron Murphy is widely projected to be picked in the top half of the first round and he could be an option for the Saints at No. 14. His teammates Edgerrin Cooper (a linebacker) and T’Vondre Sweat (a nose tackle) are both seen as second-round picks. Linebacker Jaylan Ford also has a draftable grade, and Jett Bush hopes to join him.
Of that group, Murphy and Cooper best fit the athletic thresholds the Saints value with Relative Athletic Scores of 8.96 and 9.26, respectively. Ford told 247 Sports’ Jeff Howe that the Saints are one of the teams he’s had the most contact with through the pre-draft process, so they’re clearly keeping tabs on him. Howe’s peer Hank South overheard Grantham complimenting Sweat, saying that the 366-pounder “made some money” after impressing with his movement skills during his workout.
New Orleans showed some vulnerabilities in run defense last year. The Saints ranked 11th in rushing yards allowed both per-carry and per-game, and they particularly struggled to guard mobile quarterbacks. If Dennis Allen thinks someone like Sweat or Ford can help turn that weakness into a strength, it shouldn’t shock anyone to hear their names called in April.
