Canal Street Chronicles
Who can the Saints select at their two 3rd-round picks?
In week 14, the New Orleans Saints came close to getting an upset win against the Washington Commanders. The theme of this season has been even if the Saints lose, their draft position has little to no movement. This was the case after week 14, and the Saints are still projected to select at pick 10 of the NFL Draft.
Two weeks ago, I looked at potential selections the Saints could make in the second round. This week, I wanted to look at who the Saints can select with their own third-round pick and the third-round pick they got from the Commanders in the Marshon Lattimore trade.
In recent weeks, the Saints have improved their run defense, but there is no reason to believe this can last into next season. Defensive tackle is going to be a massive need in the offseason, so at pick 74, Alfred Collins would be a great selection. Collins is 6-foot-5, 320 lbs, and a great athlete. Run defense is Collins’ strength, and at Texas, he primarily played in that nose tackle role. He can either use strength to push the offensive linemen back into the rusher and blow up the play, or he can make quick movements and slide right past blocks. Collins has some sneaky speed/burst that can catch rushers by surprise in the backfield. Although it was rare, there were times when Texas played Collins on the edge because of his pure athleticism. In pass defense, Collins has shown some potential to make a difference but still has some way to become consistent in that area.
If Alfred Collins was selected at pick 74 by the Saints, it would make sense. New Orleans needs improvements in run defense, and Collins is the run-disrupting nose tackle the team has been missing for years. Bryan Bresee will also benefit from having someone else next to him who will take on the double-team blocks. I have mentioned this before, but it is still important to remember how lethal Bresee can be when 1 on 1 with an offensive lineman.
There is a real possibility that the Saints spend their first three selections in the 2025 NFL Draft on edge, defensive tackle, and guard. This leaves the third-round pick, previously owned by the Commanders, as a wildcard. The Saints can go many different directions when selecting here, and TE could be one of those directions. Harold Fannin Jr., out of Bowling Green, is one of the most naturally talented players in the draft. If I showed any NFL fan Fannin Jr’s film and never told them his position, they would think he was a wide receiver. Fannin Jr. is a great route runner, has two drops in his career, can make the hardest reception look routine, has great speed, and is a massive threat after the catch. This is all great, but tight ends have to block in the NFL, and throughout this...
