Canal Street Chronicles
New Orleans drafts a Louisiana native in the first round of Besson’s first mock of the year.
One of the best times of football season has arrived - mock draft season! The idea of scouting and predicting which players a team will draft has always been one of my favorite parts of the season. During my 2024 mock draft 1.0, I stated how in love I was with Oregon State’s Taliese Fuaga, and the rookie tackle was later selected by the New Orleans Saints and performed greatly. So maybe, just maybe, we can go two for two on first-round predictions.
For my mock drafts, I use multiple mock draft simulators to help simulate how other teams may draft on the big night. These simulators are often flawed and a lot can change from now and three months down the line when the NFL Draft starts.
Drafting offensive linemen in the first round is never the sexy pick, but just as the Saints did last year, it is never the wrong decision. At 6’6 and 320 pounds, Will Campbell is an athletic freak. He is quick off the snap and can get into the secondary quickly, opening lanes for the running back. Campbell’s play style is similar to the Saints' first-round pick in 2024, Taliese Fuaga, and will complement him nicely. The biggest knock on the Louisiana native is his lack of arm length. While it is a weakness, moving Campbell to guard will best set him up for the NFL and allow the Saints to keep developing their young tackle duo of Taliese Fuaga and Trevor Penning.
The Saints struggled tremendously stopping the run in 2024. Kentucky’s Deone Walker will bring immediate help to that field with his 6’6 350-pound frame. Walker shows high-end quickness at his size and can engulf ball carriers off of blocks. His elite speed is also complimentary as a pass rusher, recording 7.5 sacks in 2023.
The Saints safety room has struggled to find stability since the loss of Marcus Williams in 2022. New Orleans signed veteran safety Tyrann Mathieu, but outside of the aging vet, there is no clear starter opposite of Mathieu. Ohio State’s Lathan Ransom would add sure tackling to a struggling defense that has allowed big plays off of broken tackle throughout the 2024 season with versatility to play in the box. The Senior safety recorded 46 solo tackles, three forced fumbles, one interception, and one sack in 2024. Ransom can play all around the field and can find a spot anywhere for the Saints' defense.
The Saints have tried addressing their lack of a tight-end problem through free agency and the draft and have yet to find a solution. Quarterback Derek Carr has favored passing to tight ends in the past, but reuniting the veteran quarterback with his former tight end in Las Vegas has...
