Scenario 5
- Round 1, Pick 24. Justin Jefferson, WR LSU
- Round 3, Pick 88. Nick Harris, IOL Washington
- Round 4, Pick 120. Michael Ojemudia, CB Iowa
- Round 5, Pick 151. Jacob Phillips, LB LSU
- Round 6, Pick 183. Geno Stone, S Iowa
Somehow, the Saints ended up picking Jefferson in three of the five automated drafts that we ran. That’s a great sign, at least a month-plus out from the real draft. But let’s dial in on the other prospects.
Harris is one of many center-guard hybrids in this draft class, with starter’s experience at both right guard and center. He’s only played two games at left guard, so that might be a difficult adjustment for him, but his athleticism (running the 40-yard dash in 5.1 seconds at 6-foot-1, 302 pounds) should help him succeed wherever he lines up.
Ojemudia is an intriguing prospect at corner, with well-rounded physical tools and a strong resume padded with six interceptions the last two years. It’s kind of surprising that he was available so late in this mock draft, so that might be an unrealistic expectation.
As for Phillips and Stone: they match the profile of Saints success stories taken later in the draft, putting in the hard work to overcome either limited athleticism or scant playing-time in college. Phillips has made plenty of plays and really showed out at the combine, so his stock should be on the rise, but it would be great to see the Saints reinforce their depth chart by adding him.
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