The history between the New Orleans Saints and the Ohio State Buckeyes is no secret, so as the 2024 mock draft season starts up it’s no surprise to see the two connected yet again. Touchdown Wire’s Doug Farrar just released a 2024 mock draft that had the Saints dipping back into the scarlet and silver pool with defensive end JT Tuimoloau at 20th overall.
You may be confused as to why the defensive line would be a top need yet again after the Saints worked so hard to address it in the 2023 draft, but an aging Cameron Jordan is always a retirement possibility, and he’s not under contract beyond 2023 (though he and the team are working on an extension). Even if Jordan continues playing, and all signs are that he will, both Jordan and Carl Granderson are on track to be free agents after the season. Contract extensions could absolutely address that, but adding another defensive end would not be a bad idea especially with Payton Turner not yet turning the corner. There’s a lot of pressure on second-round rookie Isaiah Foskey to be a long-term fix.
Tuimoloau had a stellar 2022 season at Ohio State. The Buckeyes’ edge threat had 32 quarterback pressures, per Pro Football Focus charting, to go with 10.5 tackles for a loss, 3.5 sacks, two interceptions, four pass breakups, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery and a pick-six to boot. He fits the Saints’ mold of a big and athletic defensive end at 6-foot-4 and 271 pounds. He needs to work on holding ground in run defense, but he really shines as a pass rusher.
He’s not the only Ohio State Buckeye that would make sense for New Orleans, as wide receivers Marvin Harrison Jr. and Emeka Egbuka also have a lot of traction early on in the cycle. The big early test for the Buckeyes that you would want to keep your eye on is their game on the road against Notre Dame on Sept. 23.
