Whew: the New Orleans Saints replaced Derek Carr in this two-round 2024 mock draft, but would team decision-makers really make such a bold call? General manager Mickey Loomis and head coach Dennis Allen made a lot of excuses for Carr’s poor performance through his first twelve games. Reversing course on draft day to pick his replacement would be a stunner.
And the passer they went with in this two-round mock draft from Draft Wire’s Curt Popejoy would likely draw a mixed reaction from Saints fans deep in SEC country. Popejoy has them picking former Oregon and Auburn quarterback Bo Nix at No. 14 overall, writing that “The Saints opt for Bo Nix here and get their quarterback of the future and allows them to advance a struggling New Orleans offense with his athleticism.”
Nix isn’t the same turnover-prone quarterback fans may remember from his Auburn career. He was a legitimate challenger for the Heisman Trophy this year and brings big-play ability that the Saints have lacked under center. He should be a good pro somewhere. It’s just tough to see him landing in New Orleans when the Saints have already committed so strongly to Carr, betting that his late-season surge will carry over into 2024 and beyond with a new play caller.
What about the second round? The Saints own the Denver Broncos’ pick at No. 45 this year and Popejoy has them spending it on Yale left tackle Kiran Amegadjie. A big athlete who was clean in pass protection while dominating his level of competition (earning All-Ivy recognition), he won’t be competing at the Senior Bowl this week while recovering from a torn quad muscle. Injury history hasn’t scared the Saints off before, and Amegadgie checks enough boxes to where he could be on their radar on the second day of the 2024 draft.
