Round 6, Pick 203:
Best players available:
- WR Lynn Bowden, Kentucky
- LB Davion Taylor, Colorado
- QB Cole McDonald, Hawaii
- CB John Reid, Penn State
- DT Bravvion Roy, Baylor
So, there was a run on cornerbacks since our last pick. That’s the gamble you take when passing on an opportunity when it’s there to be had. The best corner left is Reid, an undersized slot corner with above-average athleticism. He’s a fun player to watch but the Saints have a surplus of players like him, and there aren’t really any other cornerback prospects with draftable grades still hanging around.
The Saints could consider doubling down at linebacker, which makes sense considering how many of their own are returning from season-ending injuries (Anzalone, Alonso, and rookie backup Kaden Elliss). Taylor is a prospect they’ve shown interest in recently, and he could push someone like Craig Robertson further down the depth chart if everything goes his way.
Bowden is the best pass-catcher on the board, though he has peers like Stephen Guidry (Mississippi State) and Jauan Jennings (Tennessee) just behind him. The Saints have invested a lot in the receiver position already, though, so we’ll wait and see if any of them are available to sign free agent contracts after the draft.
McDonald is a big personality who thrived in a pass-happy offense, but his struggles with throwing on rhythm don’t bode well for the Saints offense. It’s possible the Saints could view him as a consolation prize to missing out on Morgan (who the Jacksonville Jaguars selected immediately after our last pick in this simulation), and they probably won’t find a better prospect this late in the game. We wouldn’t hate the selection.
But what if the Saints threw a curve ball and went with Roy? He was snubbed from this year’s list of combine invitations, and looks like a sneaky-good rookie pickup much like Shy Tuttle and Taylor Stallworth (both undrafted free agents) have been for the Saints in recent years. While he may be initially limited to early-down work as a 337-pounder (playing behind a great nose tackle in Malcom Brown, too) the Saints proved last year they can find room for everyone in their deep defensive line rotation. You could certainly do worse than adding a big man who made 61 total tackles in his senior year (including 13 tackles for loss and 5.5 sacks) so late in the draft.
In the end, though, we’re going to take a chance on McDonald. Maybe he’ll be the next Gardner Minshew. None of these prospects would get much playing time in New Orleans, and a fluid Saints quarterback situation means that they shouldn’t overlook anyone.
The Pick: QB Cole McDonald, Hawaii