Last week, the New Orleans Saints were projected to be selected at pick 28 in the next NFL Draft. Now, after a tough loss to the Eagles, they are projected to be selecting at pick 22. In the first two games of the season, it wasn’t easy to see what certain needs were on the roster, but the Week 3 matchup showed work will be needed in the offseason.
A lot went wrong for the Saints in Week 3, but some issues were more glaring than others. In my opinion, the run defense and the offensive line (without Eric McCoy) were the two places the Saints struggled the most. The good thing is the Saints can add some potential fixes in next year’s draft.
The Prospects
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The first two prospects that I will talk about will both help in run defense while also adding a threat to the pass rush. Starting with defensive tackle, I have Kentucky standout Deone Walker. At a massive 6-foot-6, 350 pounds, Walker is dominant. Being this size, he is able to use power very well, but Walker also uses finesse to get right past the offensive lineman. Kentucky has used him all over the defensive line and sometimes dropping back in coverage. When Walker does get into the backfield, he uses excellent quickness to wrap up the ball carrier. If the Saints draft Deone Walker, they would add a dominant run defender who could be the perfect match next to Bryan Bresee.
Sticking with the defensive line, Texas A&M edge rusher Nic Scourton could be another option for the Saints. Scourton uses a combination of speed, power, and length to beat offensive tackles and get to the opposing quarterbacks. Like Bryan Bresee, he has a lethal spin move that catches the offensive lineman by surprise. In run defense, Scourton has the skills to defeat any blocker and track down the ball carrier. Currently, the Saints’ edge rush group is a strength of the team, but as I have mentioned in previous articles, there is a good chance next season’s edge group will look a lot different. Chase Young may not be re-signed, and Cam Jordan’s role on the team has already been greatly diminished. Even now, the Saints’ run defense off the edge is not great, so next offseason, the edge rusher could be greatly elevated as a much bigger need. Nic Scourton is an all-around edge rusher who could bring some of everything to the table, but he also has the potential to be an absolute game wrecker.
Going to the opposite side of the ball, the Saints’ offensive line was terrible against the Eagles. The loss of Erik McCoy was felt right away, and besides Taliese Fuaga, the line was never able to achieve consistency. Going into next season, the Saints need to add more offensive line talent, and in the draft, Jonah Savaiinaea may be the best pick. In my 2025 way too early Saints mock draft, I had the team select Savaiinaea at pick 10 but noted he could still be available around pick 20. In pass protection, Savaiinaea can dominate against speed and power. This year at Arizona, Savaiinaea has been played at right tackle, right guard, and even left tackle. This type of versatility and ability to shine wherever he is put is very uncommon. The Saints may be going into next offseason looking for a new offensive guard and tackle. Drafting Savaiinaea would either be a big upgrade at tackle or a big upgrade at guard. No matter where the Saints play him, this selection would add a significant improvement to the line.
