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Wide receiver has been a popular pick for the New Orleans Saints in this year’s mock drafts, and for good reason. It’s the thinnest position group on the team with one real playmaker in Michael Thomas, who is very, very good at what he does. Wide receiver is also considered the deepest pool to draw from in the 2020 NFL Draft, so it makes sense for experts to think the Saints will address the issue right away next month.
The latest mock draft comes from NFL.com’s Charles Davis, who projects the Saints to select a talented pass-catcher in Alabama prospect Henry Ruggs III:
If there is one thing the Saints‘ offense needs, it’s a consistent outside threat to take pressure off All-Pro receiver Michael Thomas. Ruggs’ exceptional speed (4.27 40 at the combine) will scare all defenses and create space for other weapons in New Orleans’ arsenal.
There’s little doubt that Ruggs is worthy of a first-round pick; his athleticism speaks for itself, having broken the 94th percentile in the 40-yard dash, vertical jump, and broad jump. The only reservations teams may share from a physical standpoint concern his undersized frame at 5-foot-11, 188 pounds. But he wouldn’t be the first quick-footed receiver to overcome a small catch radius (see: Brandin Cooks and Tyreek Hill).
What about his actual on-field performance? Ruggs was outplayed by Jeudy, his Crimson Tide teammate, with 40 catches for 746 yards and seven scores in 2019 (Jeudy racked up 77 receptions, 1,163 yards, and 10 touchdown grabs), but there are great reasons for Jeudy to be ranked higher, which do nothing to hurt Ruggs’ NFL prospects. And it’s worth noting that Devonta Smith had more receiving yards and touchdown catches than either of them, but he returned to Alabama for his senior year. There’s no shame in being the third-best receiver on one of college football’s strongest depth charts.
And if Ruggs were to land in New Orleans, well, he’d be an immediate running-mate for a two-time first-team All-Pro who just reset the NFL’s record for catches in a single season. Drew Brees loves to spread the ball around, and it’s very exciting to consider what he could do with such a pair of weapons.
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