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NFL teams have busy in adjusting to league-mandated travel restrictions in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, conducting meetings with 2020 NFL Draft prospects over teleconference that would normally be held in person. The New Orleans Saints are no exception; last week, they interviewed Texas A&M Aggies defensive lineman Justin Madubuike, and recently followed up by video conferencing with his teammate, wide receiver Quartney Davis.
The Houston Chronicle’s Aaron Wilson reported that Davis spoke with the Saints, Philadelphia Eagles, and Minnesota Vikings over video chat services, having previously gone through a pre-draft workout for the Arizona Cardinals and several meetings with the Houston Texans. Projected to be picked on the third and final day of this year’s draft (The Athletic’s Dane Brugler grades Davis as a fifth- or sixth-round selection), he’s clearly intrigued teams with holes at wide receiver.
While the Saints have addressed the position through a short-term fix (Emmanuel Sanders’ two-year contract was finalized on Monday), they could certainly use another wideout to push Tre’Quan Smith for the third spot on the depth chart behind Sanders and Michael Thomas. While Smith has reeled in 10 touchdown passes during his first two NFL seasons, he’s been too inconsistent with 48 receptions in 29 career games (including the playoffs), an average of just 1.7 catches per game.
Maybe Davis would be able to compete with Smith outright. He’s an unremarkable athlete (having timed the 40-yard dash in 4.54 seconds at 6-foot-1 and 201 pounds, with a catch radius of 75 3/4 inches) but played well enough for the Aggies, notching 99 receptions for 1,201 yards (with 11 touchdown grabs) in two years before leaving school early for the NFL. He might be someone the Saints consider should they be unable to land a similar, higher-graded target such as Arizona State’s Brandon Aiyuk earlier in the draft.
Texas A&M WR Quartney Davis video conferences with Saints, Eagles, Vikings; worked out for Cardinals, met with Texans at combine, Senior Bowl: https://t.co/BD96cR8qmy
— Aaron Wilson (@AaronWilson_NFL) April 7, 2020
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