Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
USA Today Sports Media Group
USA Today Sports Media Group
Sport
John Sigler

Breaking down the Saints picks in new 7-round mock draft simulation

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

Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports

Round 2, Pick 40: DE Keion White, Georgia Tech

Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

Round 3, Pick 71: WR Marvin Mims Jr., Oklahoma

Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports

Round 4, Pick 115: RB Israel Abanikanda, Pittsburgh

Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports

Round 5, Pick 146: Trade down with Los Angeles Chargers

Jeff Gross/Getty Images

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

Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

Round 5, Pick 165: RB Kenny McIntosh, Georgia

Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Round 7, Pick 227: RB DeWayne McBride, UAB

Petre Thomas-USA TODAY Sports

Round 7, Pick 239 (via Chargers): DE Ikenna Enechukwu, Rice

Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Round 7, Pick 257: QB Tyson Bagent, Shepherd

Vasha Hunt-USA TODAY Sports

Analysis

Sean Gardner/Getty Images

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.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.