Enough people have taken a shot at writing mock drafts that, with the 2023 NFL draft just a few weeks out, we decided to let our mechanical overlords have a try. We ran a seven-round simulation with the Pro Football Network mock draft machine making picks for every team, which put together some unique results for the New Orleans Saints. Let’s break it down:
Round 1, Pick 29: TE Darnell Washington, Georgia
Round 2, Pick 40: DE Keion White, Georgia Tech
Round 3, Pick 71: WR Marvin Mims Jr., Oklahoma
Round 4, Pick 115: RB Israel Abanikanda, Pittsburgh
Round 5, Pick 146: Trade down with Los Angeles Chargers
The Saints traded down 10 spots in the fifth round and received a seventh-round pick from the Chargers (at No. 239 overall).
Round 5, Pick 156: DE Habakkuk Baldonado, Pittsburgh
Round 5, Pick 165: RB Kenny McIntosh, Georgia
Round 7, Pick 227: RB DeWayne McBride, UAB
Round 7, Pick 239 (via Chargers): DE Ikenna Enechukwu, Rice
Round 7, Pick 257: QB Tyson Bagent, Shepherd
Analysis
This was the weirdest Saints mock draft we’ve seen this year so far, mainly because it has them breaking a 15-year streak of not trading down. Beyond that, though, the algorithm’s decision to draft three running backs and three defensive ends is difficult to figure out. Sure, both positions are areas of need for New Orleans, but not quite to that degree. And drafting a blocking tight end in the first round is certainly a bold choice. We’ll rate this projection a D-plus, with plenty of room to improve.
Still, the Saints came away from this simulation with some quality players. Mims is an underrated receiver and great value in the third round. Abanikanda is a fantastic pick in the fourth round — if he’d been healthy and able to participate at the NFL Scouting Combine, he’d be projected much higher, but instead teams and media analysts are playing catch-up after he impressed everyone at Pitt’s pro day. Baldonado and Enechukwu are both prototypical defensive ends who play with great strength and length, and would make sense if the Saints don’t address that position early on. Picking White in the second round makes them a bit redundant, though, but that’s the limitation of running a simulation without the guiding force of a human hand.
