Yaccarino: Who did the Saints select in PFSN’s mock draft

This past week, Pro Football & Sports Network (PFSN) held a mock draft with 32 different beat writers/content creators in which I had the honor of representing the New Orleans Saints. The selections were based on what would happen if we were the GM’s of our respective teams.

Going in, there was really no preferred player that I wanted to be available at the Saints’ selection. Saying this, there was a group of players that I hoped I had the opportunity to pick from when the Saints pick was up. In no particular order, this group was RB Ashton Jeanty, TE Tyler Warren, OL Will Campbell, WR Tetairoa McMillan, DB Jahdae Barron, and QB Shedeur Sanders. I had no favorite out of this group, but when it was my time to select, I knew I had to compare the prospects and see which would be the best selection. This is a similar situation to what many teams are going to go through in this year’s draft. Most of the picks in the first round can go in any direction because of the lack of top-end talent in the draft. It makes it much harder to predict where these prospects will be selected.

Photo by David Rosenblum/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

Before getting to who I picked, It is important to look at what happened before the Saints’ selection.

1. Tennessee Titans – QB Cam Ward
2. Cleveland Browns – QB Shedeur Sanders
3. New York Giants – CB/WR Travis Hunter
4. New England Patriots – EDGE Abdul Carter
5. Jacksonville Jaguars – DT Mason Graham
6. Las Vegas Raiders – RB Ashton Jeanty
7. New York Jets – OT Armand Membou
8. Cincinnati Bengals (Trade with Panthers) – LB/EDGE Jalon Walker

After the Browns pick, which could have changed things in the top-8, most of the selections were the expected ones. When the Panthers were up at 8, I expected them to go with Jalon Walker, but then I saw a trade happen I got worried. The trade was the Bengals sending Trey Hendrickson and 17 to the Panthers for 8 and a third-round pick. Going away from the draft, the Saints having to play Hendrickson twice a year now is a nightmare scenario. In regard to the draft, a team seeing the pick before them get traded back is worrisome and I was not sure where the Bengals were going to go. Luckily, they actually went with who the Panthers would have probably gone with, that being Jalon Walker. Now, the Saints pick was up.

In that original group of players, I wanted to be available at pick 9, I could have chosen from 4 prospects: Will Campbell, Tyler Warren, Tetairoa McMillan, and Jahdae Barron. Trading back was something I considered, but without many people interested, I was forced to stick and pick. For me, the selection was between Warren and Campbell, which is a very realistic decision the Saints will need to make. Warren would be an amazing weapon to add to this team and his versatility is an offensive coach’s dream, but the trenches need to be improved on this roster, which is one of the main reasons I went with Will Campbell.

Photo by Gus Stark/LSU/University Images via Getty Images

Although Campbell’s ability to play tackle in the NFL is a worry, it honestly does not matter for the New Orleans Saints. As of now, LG is still the main position of need on the offensive line, but soon, tackle could be become one also if they do not pick up Trevor Penning’s fifth-year option. With how much Kellen Moore values the offensive line, preparing for the outcome would be smart. Still, even if they do end up picking up Penning’s option, adding Campbell to play LG for now would still be a massive add to this offensive line. His leadership, talent, and athleticism are everything a team would want to add to their roster, no matter what position he plays on the line.

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