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The long 2020 NFL offseason is here, and the New Orleans Saints are hard at work in diagnosing the problems that sunk last year’s team. But that’s just one part of the job; they also have to analyze the free agency market and 2020 NFL Draft class to find the best available fits for their needs. It’s challenging to be sure, but also fun to speculate about, meaning everyone has opinions on which way the Saints should go next.
But the latest take comes from ESPN senior writer Todd McShay, who specializes in covering the NFL draft along with Mel Kiper. And McShay sees wide receiver as the clearest, most-pressing draft need for the Saints at this stage in the offseason. He’s projecting the Saints to pick Clemson Tigers wide receiver Tee Higgins:
Outside of Michael Thomas, Jared Cook and Alvin Kamara, what do Drew Brees and the Saints’ offense really have in the passing game? Not much. Ted Ginn Jr. was the second-most productive wide receiver behind Thomas with just 421 yards, and the next best was Tre’Quan Smith with a measly 234 yards. Whether or not it’s Brees throwing the passes in 2020 — yeah, quarterback is a position to watch here, too — the Saints have to address that lack of depth. The 6-foot-4 Higgins can make guys miss with his strength and will come down with anything thrown near him. He averaged a hair shy of 20 yards per catch this past season for the Tigers.
Higgins is, as McShay pointed out, something of a playmaker. He’s a tall, agile receiver that might resemble a young Julio Jones, but with greater college production (Higgins has caught 25 touchdown passes in his last 30 games, while Jones scored just 15 touchdown receptions in 40 games at Alabama). He’d be a tremendous fit in the Saints offense alongside Thomas, and would do a lot to help extend the viability of Drew Brees, if he returns — or provide a welcome boost to Teddy Bridgewater or Taysom Hill, should someone else start under center in 2020.
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