A new trend is starting to emerge in the latest series of New Orleans Saints mock drafts. The 2023 NFL draft is within sight, and it makes sense that some things will begin to crystalize as teams finalize their plans — and information is more readily available than ever with coaches, scouts, and personnel executives traveling the country on the pro day circuit. Free agency is beginning to wind down, which helps identify remaining team needs.
Multiple projections have the Saints trading up in the first round targeting pass rushers. New Orleans lost its former first-round defensive end Marcus Davenport (ironically acquired in a similar first-round trade back in 2018) to the Minnesota Vikings in free agency, and though they added help at defensive tackle in Nathan Shepherd and Khalen Saunders neither player adequately replaces what was lost in David Onyemata, who went to the division-rival Atlanta Falcons.
Maybe the writers putting these mock drafts together are simply connecting dots between an aggressive team that needs pass-rush help and a rookie class with some big names who might be just out of reach. Maybe rumors are going around suggesting a trade is in the works. It’s too soon to say right now, but here’s a quick look at each of these projections: