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The most recent 2020 NFL mock draft from Michael Renner of Pro Football Focus started out with an as-expected pick for the New Orleans Saints in the first round: LSU Tigers linebacker Patrick Queen. Citing Queen’s 4.5-second 40 time as a big improvement over A.J. Klein (who left in free agency), PFF envisions a great linebacker tandem between Queen and 2019 first-team All-Pro Demario Davis. That’s been a common pick in recent mock-ups.
What’s less typical is the player tagged with the Saints in the third round, at No. 88 overall. In that lost, PFF has the Saints picking Memphis Tigers pass-catcher Antonio Gibson — a versatile playmaker who caught 38 passes while carrying the ball 33 times on the ground last season. Here’s what they wrote to justify the pick:
More versatile weapons for Sean Payton. Gibson isn’t much as a pure slot receiver, but he’s got first-round type talent with the ball in his hands. He broke 33 tackles on 77 career touches.
Gibson is an interesting prospect on paper; he certainly boasts enough athleticism to win in the NFL, having timed the 40-yard dash in just 4.39 seconds at 6-foot-0, 228 pounds. But his lack of a clear role in the pros makes this kind of early selection a little questionable. The Saints should probably look for someone more NFL-ready considering they have just two picks in the first 100 selections to work with.
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