Good news, everyone: the New Orleans Saints finally have a first-round pick in the 2023 NFL draft after agreeing on a trade that sent Sean Payton to the Denver Broncos. But what can they do with it? To figure that out, we’ve updated our seven-round Saints mock draft reflecting the picks the team actually has to work with now.
I’m going into this mock draft with the expectation that the Saints will find a starting quarterback ahead of the event, likely in free agency (or they could trade for one, but that’s its own can of worms) while addressing some other big priorities. So don’t panic when you don’t see that first rounder spent on your favorite quarterback prospect. Remember, free agency happens before the draft, and that’s where the Saints are likeliest to solve their problems.
So look at this as an opportunity to introduce yourself to some new 2023 draft prospects more than anything else. If we know anything about Mickey Loomis, it’s that the Saints general manager isn’t finished making moves. This projection is going to change wildly in the weeks ahead:
Available draft picks
- Round 1, pick 29 (via Denver Broncos)
- Round 2, pick 40
- Round 3, pick 71
- Round 4, pick 115
- Round 5, pick 148
- Round 5, pick 168 (via Philadelphia Eagles)
- Round 7, pick 229
- Round 7, pick 260 (projected compensatory)
Round 1, pick 29: TE Michael Mayer
Juwan Johnson should return on a restricted free agent tender for 2023, but New Orleans probably moves on from either him (if he’s too expensive) or Adam Trautman (once his rookie deal expires) in 2024, so this pick helps the offense now while keeping an eye on the future. Mayer is the best tight end in the draft with extensive blocking reps and experience lining up all over the field as a receiver. If he can help Alvin Kamara be more of a threat on runs to the outside while converting tough first downs, this pick is worth it, even if he’s playing second-fiddle to Johnson his rookie year.
Round 2, pick 40: DT Gervon Dexter, Florida
The Saints need to rebuild their defensive line with so many players headed for free agency, and Dexter is a great talent to start with. He’s listed at an imposing 6-foot-6 and 312 pounds but moves very well for someone his size, and he’s been a consistent pass rusher the last two years with 25 and 24 pressures for the Gators, per PFF. Call this a meat-and-potatoes pick, but if the Saints hire a good defensive line coach to work with him Dexter could be special.
Round 3, pick 71: RB Zach Charbonnet, UCLA
Do you know how hard it is for me to not just put Hendon Hooker in this spot every single time? I’d love to see him in the Saints offense and he’s consistently available in the third round in these simulators. But I can’t just recycle the same picks each week. So we’ll look elsewhere and get a home-run threat running back. Charbonnet brings the straight-line speed New Orleans has lacked at the position in a well-built 6-foot-1, 220-pound frame. He’s a steal at this point in the draft and could make Alvin Kamara expendable if he can improve in pass protection.
Round 4, pick 115: DE Jose Ramirez, Eastern Michigan
Will the Saints finally start to look for some speed rushers who can fire quickly off the snap and work around the arc to get after quarterbacks now that Ryan Nielsen isn’t coaching their defensive line? If so, Ramirez is a good prospect. He’s a very productive pass rusher and has some Khalil Mack to his game as someone who wins — often! — despite not fitting an ideal height/weight prototype. He could help the Saints pass rush right away on third downs.
Round 5, pick 148: WR Charlie Jones, Purdue
I don’t love the idea of having so many wide receivers with similar body types (Jones is listed at 6-flat and under 190 pounds, just like Chris Olave and Rashid Shaheed) but there’s a lot to be said for guys who play bigger than what’s listed in the program. Jones leads the draft class in contested catches (22) and ranks second-best in first down conversions (63). He’s strong, fast, and fights hard to make plays. You can’t ask for more in the fifth round.
Round 5, pick 168: OL Emil Ekiyor Jr., Alabama
Ekiyor worked with Saints offensive line coach Doug Marrone in 2021, so there’s some familiarity there. He’s played all three interior line spots and started the last three years at right guard which is a really valuable well of experience to draw from. Ekiyor has thrown his weight around at Senior Bowl practice and passes the eye test with just 2 sacks allowed on 1,555 career snaps in pass protection. Give him a shot.
Round 7, pick 229: WR Puka Nacua, Brigham Young
There are always run-after-catch players who stand out at Senior Bowl practices, but there aren’t many of them who stand a legit 6-foot-1 and 205 pounds. Nacua moves like a much lighter player but he’s shown great concentration on catches in traffic, and he combines refined route-running technique with impressive body control to make for a really tough player to defend. Take a flyer on him.
Round 7, pick 260: CB Darrell Luter Jr., South Alabama
Luter was a big special teams player in college and he figures to make his case in the kicking game, where the Saints do need to improve in 2023. But he’s a feisty cornerback with nice short-area agility and a heady style of play with just 3 penalties on 780 defensive snaps last year. Bring him in and ask him to compete for a roster spot during the summer.
Recapping our draft
- Round 1, pick 29: TE Michael Mayer
- Round 2, pick 40: DT Gervon Dexter, Florida
- Round 3, pick 71: RB Zach Charbonnet, UCLA
- Round 4, pick 115: DE Jose Ramirez, Eastern Michigan
- Round 5, pick 148: WR Charlie Jones, Purdue
- Round 5, pick 168: OL Emil Ekiyor Jr., Alabama
- Round 7, pick 229: WR Puka Nacua, Brigham Young
- Round 7, pick 260: CB Darrell Luter Jr., South Alabama
We used our early-round picks to get more dynamic on offense and shore up a big vulnerability defensively, then loaded up on some very productive college stars in the middle rounds. Closing out the draft with proven commodities and players who have a pretty clear vision for what they need to do to make the roster is key. I’d still like to have come away with a safety to replace Marcus Maye next year and, yes, a promising quarterback prospect, but it’s hard out here. Hopefully the Saints can resolve that problem through another avenue.
