Picks – Page 4 – Syndication Server

Draft Grades: Panthers trade to select RB Jonathon Brooks at No. 46 overall

The Carolina Panthers have done a lot of trading so far in the 2024 NFL draft, most recently moving up to No. 46 overall to select the draft’s first running back in Jonathon Brooks out of Texas.

Brooks was widely considered the best running back in the class, and that was a huge need for Carolina. He joins a group with Chuba Hubbard and Miles Sanders, Brooks could be the top dog in that room by the end of his rookie season.

He is coming off of an ACL tear, though, which could potentially complicate things but his is expected to be back before training camp begins. He has some pass-catching ability, but is definitely known more for his shiftiness out of the backfield. He has a little bit of everything in his game.

Grade: B+

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Trade details on Saints’ deal with Packers to pick CB Kool-Aid McKinstry

The New Orleans Saints made a big move in the 2024 NFL draft, cutting a deal with the Green Bay Packers so they could trade up in Round 2 and pick Alabama cornerback Kool-Aid McKinstry. But what did it cost them?

Green Bay sent the No. 41 pick to New Orleans that they originally got from the New York Jets in a trade for Aaron Rodgers last year. In exchange for that, the Saints sent their second rounder at No. 45 as well as two Day 3 picks: a fifth-round selection at No. 168 and a sixth rounder at No. 190.

Let’s lay it out a little more cleanly:

Saints get: No. 41 (Round 2)
Packers get: No. 45 (Round 2), No. 168 (Round 5), and No. 190 (Round 6)

That seems like a lot, but the Saints still own five picks in the last three rounds: three in Round 5 and one each in Rounds 6 and 7. So we can’t rule out more moves as the draft continues. We’re guessing the Saints won’t sit still between picks 41 and 150.

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This is when the Saints will be picking in Round 2 on Friday night

Set your DVR or make plans to get to your seat. This is when the Saints will be picking in Round 2 on Friday night:

The 2024 NFL draft is up and running, so be sure to make plans to get to your seat in time for the New Orleans Saints to make their pick (or at least set your DVR). Right now, the Saints are scheduled to make the 13th pick in Round 2 on Friday night, at No. 45 overall. If they stay put, they’ll go on the clock around 7:25 p.m. CT.

This is the pick the Saints got back from the Denver Broncos after trading the rights to Sean Payton’s contract last offseason. And it won’t be Roger Goodell reading the card — it’ll be Taysom Hill welcoming his newest teammate to the NFL.

So who will the Saints pick? We’ve highlighted their best options out of the players still on the board, but it’s anyone’s guess as to which direction they try to move. Maybe they’ll target a wide receiver. They could double-dip on the offensive line. Or an addition to the defensive line or secondary might be in the cards. Tune in to ABC, ESPN, or NFL Network on Friday night to find out.

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How Saints fans can watch Round 1 of the 2024 NFL draft

How New Orleans Saints fans can watch Round 1 of the 2024 NFL draft: Time, channel, and what to look for

The 2024 NFL draft is officially upon us as the first round is set to kick off on Thursday night at 7 p.m. CT. The New Orleans Saints are currently scheduled to pick at No. 14 overall, and the majority of expert mock drafts have them taking an offensive tackle in Round 1.

With the rest of their selections, there are a few key positions that the Saints should look to target: defensive tackle, wide receiver, safety and more offensive linemen. Other positional needs that maybe aren’t as pressing but can definitely be added to are nickel, tight end and pass rusher specifically in the middle to later rounds.

There’s a sense of urgency within the organization and the fan base to hit big on this year’s class. You can tune in to ESPN, ABC and NFL Network when the draft starts on Thursday, April 25 from Detroit. Here’s the full schedule for the event:

Day 1: Round 1

When it starts: Thursday, April 25 at 7 p.m. CT

Where the Saints are picking: No. 14

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This is when Saints are expected to make 2024 draft pick Thursday

This is the time the Saints are expected to make their first-round pick in the 2024 draft on Thursday night — unless they make a surprise trade:

We’re in for a fun environment with the 2024 NFL draft kicking off from Detroit on Thursday night, but when will the New Orleans Saints go on the clock? The Saints are scheduled to pick at No. 14 on Day 1 and currently hold eight additional picks between Days 2 and 3, but we’ll keep all eyes on Round 1.

Last year’s 14th overall selection was announced at 8:50 p.m. CT when the Pittsburgh Steelers selected offensive tackle Broderick Jones out of Georgia. Coincidentally, with the glaring weakness that the Saints have at the offensive tackle position, it is likely that they will also look to select an offensive tackle with that same 14th selection. Unless they make a trade.

This year’s draft will be broadcast on ABC, ESPN, and NFL Network, as well as the NFL+ streaming service. The Chicago Bears will get us started by making the first pick at 7 p.m. CT, so be sure to tune in before the fireworks start.

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Report: Saints calling teams to trade up in Round 1 of 2024 draft

NFL Media draft expert Daniel Jeremiah reports that the Saints are calling teams about trading up in Round 1 of the 2024 draft:

Are we in for another Mickey Loomis special? NFL Media’s Daniel Jeremiah shared a big piece of information in his final 2024 mock draft, which he had previously only alluded to on social media.

“The Saints have been calling teams to try to trade up, and I assume they want one of the top offensive tackles,” Jeremiah wrote, predicting the Saints will ultimately stay put and select Washington Huskies left tackle Troy Fautanu. He continued, “I’m not sure how they have the OTs stacked on their board, but I do feel highly confident that New Orleans will be taking a bookend blocker in Round 1.”

Jeremiah has been on the Saints’ case for a while; he previously tweeted that he couldn’t find a team with a bigger need in this draft class than the Saints have at offensive tackle, later adding that everything he’s hearing from sources around the league is that teams are working the phones to move up in trades for their favorite offensive tackles.

Which leads us to two different conclusions. The reasonable takeaway would be that the Saints are such an obvious fit for a first-round offensive tackle that other teams are working to move ahead of them, in case the blocker they like most is in New Orleans’ sights. If a team rates, say, Alabama’s JC Latham highest but fears the Saints will pick him, they’ll be calling now to try and leapfrog New Orleans.

Now the other conclusion: it’s the Saints themselves who are trying to get out in front. That’s backed up by what Jeremiah is reporting in his final mock draft, and it’s reasonable to think Loomis would work the phones upon hearing how other teams are trying to move ahead of him. It’s clear that the Saints desperately need a bookend tackle (two, really; Trevor Penning hasn’t earned anyone’s trust on the left side).

If Loomis sees a path towards getting this year’s best blocker, he’s going to act aggressively and pursue it. He has the rare job security to justify it. If the pick busts like Penning or Marcus Davenport, he’s confident he’ll be safe. He’s gotten away with these bad gambles before and he’ll try them again, sooner or later. Maybe he tries it as soon as Thursday night. It just seems ill-advised when this is such a deep draft class at offensive tackle. The Saints could probably stay put and still get a starting-quality blocker (like Fautanu), or else a difference-maker at another position. We’ll see how it plays out soon enough.

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NFL draft analyst has the ideal selections for the Saints in first two rounds

Who are the ideal selections for the Saints in the first two rounds? NFL draft analyst answer that question at two critical positions.

As the NFL draft inches closer, you’ll be flooded with mock drafts every other day. These are interesting ways to predict how the draft may play out and who will be on the board when the New Orleans Saints pick at 14 and their subsequent picks.

NFL.com draft analyst Chad Reuter put a spin on the typical mock drafts we’ll see flying around over the next week. Reuter laid out the ideal player for each team with their first two picks. He didn’t pick a player twice and attempted to keep it realistic to what range a player may be picked. The New Orleans Saints’ first two selections are at Nos. 14 and 45, and here’s who Reuter says they should choose:

Round 1: No. 14 overall: Olumuyiwa Fashanu, OT, Penn State

Round 2: No. 45 overall: Keon Coleman, WR, Florida State

Former first-round pick Trevor Penning struggled at left tackle, and veteran right tackle Ryan Ramczyk is dealing with a chronic knee issue, so the Saints will be looking for offensive line help early in the draft. Fashanu possesses the size (6-6, 312 pounds) and length (34-inch arms) to excel in the NFL if he can continue to grow as a player. He would seemingly be a great answer at left tackle if Penning is moved to left guard or right tackle. The Saints could also use another outside threat to pair with Chris Olave now that veteran Michael Thomas has been released. Coleman’s long speed is only average (4.61 40 at 230 pounds), but he has some open-field quickness for his size.

It’s difficult to argue the positions. You may prefer a different player, but wide receiver and offensive tackle are two of the Saints’ bigger needs entering the draft. Drafting Fashanu brings the question of what do you do with Trevor Penning? However, draft a guy you know can be a cornerstone at left tackle and decide from there. Reuter does leave room for the new staff to salvage Penning, which would shift focus to right tackle.

Keon Coleman specifically fits the build of wide receiver to replace Michael Thomas in New Orleans. Coleman’s frame would be beneficial as a target across the middle. As stated, his 40 yard dash time wasn’t great but his speed through position drills at the NFL Scouting Combine quelled many concerns. These could be the ideal picks for the Saints in each of the first two rounds, but they may be realistic, too. We’ll find out in just one more week.

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Dennis Allen’s draft history proves one thing about Saints’ priorities

Dennis Allen’s draft history gives us a good idea to what positions could be on the table in the first round of the 2024 NFL draft:

Dennis Allen is entering his third season as the New Orleans Saints head coach. His tenure has proven many things but one of those is his ability to properly identify and address a need, specifically in the NFL draft. Quality of the players is up for debate, however, he’s proven he knows what holes need to be filled. This is noteworthy when predicting the 2024 first-round pick.

Wide receiver was a major issue going into his inaugural season. Sean Payton trusted his offensive acumen, to a fault, to scheme players open. Allen didn’t have the luxury to even be that confident as a defensive minded coach. Chris Olave was Allen’s first pick. The other clearly glaring hole was offensive tackle that season after Terron Armstead’s departure. This led to Trevor Penning being the second first-round pick of 2022.

Last season, the Saints were in desperate need of pass rush. The response was to draft a defensive tackle and defensive end in the first two rounds. Bryan Bresee delivered in his first year while Isaiah Foskey played a season-high 20 snaps in a Week 5 blowout of the Patriots.

As they say “results may vary.” Olave and Bresee are examples of good picks, while Penning and Foskey haven’t truly seen enough time to fully know what they will be. His talent evaluation may be spotty, but he has shown an understanding of what needs must be addressed. The Saints have needs at offensive tackle, defensive end and wide receiver. Those needs aren’t as glaring as year’s past, but those are the most likely first round candidates.

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B/R writer argues Saints should trade down in 2024, stockpile draft picks for 2025

The Saints don’t typically trade down, but Bleacher Report argues they should break the mold to stockpile picks for next year’s draft:

As the New Orleans Saints finish preparing for the 2024 NFL draft, Bleacher Report’s Alex Kay argues the Saints should deviate from their norm and trade down to stockpile 2025 draft picks. Kay doesn’t believe the Saints are in a position to succeed this year, so they should prioritize the future and start padding out their war chest for 2025.

Here’s what Kay had to support the case for trading down and laying the groundwork to move on from Derek Carr:

The New Orleans Saints have been stuck in NFL purgatory since the retirement of Drew Brees following the 2020 season. The team has gone 25-26 in that span, never finishing worse than 7-10 and never better than 9-8—including last year when it posted that record and earned the No. 14 overall pick in the upcoming draft.

That draft position isn’t ideal for a team that is becoming desperate to find a proper heir to Brees’ throne. After striking out with the likes of Jameis Winston and Taysom Hill, the front office attempted to take another veteran shortcut by signing Derek Carr last year.

Carr is a four-time Pro Bowler, but he isn’t the right man to lead the Saints back to relevance. Even after a bounce-back 2023 season that saw him throw for 3,878 yards and 25 touchdowns with only eight interceptions, Carr still failed to take New Orleans to the playoffs. After a decade in the NFL, the 33-year-old has played in only two postseason games.

The Saints have to find a way to acquire a high-upside rookie who can eventually take over under center. It’s likely too pricy for the club to maneuver up the board this year—teams have been seeking a “historic haul” to trade out from the top spots—but it’s possible the Saints could put themselves in a better position to land the right prospect by trading back.

New Orleans’ brass shouldn’t shy away from a move down into the latter portion of the first round this year, a spot where it could try rolling the dice on Bo Nix or Michael Penix Jr. at a spot that makes more sense than No. 14.

The Saints would be wise to accept a package including 2025 picks as part of any trade back, giving the team a bigger influx of talent for a season in which their 2024 rookie prospect should be ready to usurp Carr as the starter.

This isn’t going to happen. For one, the Saints notoriously do not trade back under general manager Mickey Loomis, instead opting to be aggressors in the draft while looking to move higher. If they do trade down, it’ll likely be for compensation in this year’s draft. Also, New Orleans is unlikely to grab a replacement for Carr in the form of a high profile quarterback. Maybe they draft a guy on Day 3, or the right guy will have to fall in their lap.

The fundamental different between Kay and the Saints is the belief in Carr. They aren’t actively searching for the new franchise quarterback. Carr is believed to be that for at least the short term future. It would be surprising to see the Saints identify and select a player this year they know will set up an inevitable departure for Carr.

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PFF proposes trade-up scenario for Saints in Round 1 of 2024 draft

Pro Football Focus says the Saints should consider this draft-day trade in Round 1 of the 2024 NFL draft, making a big move to upgrade at left tackle:

Few teams are as aggressive on draft day as the New Orleans Saints have been with Mickey Loomis calling the shots for the last 20 years. They almost always trade up, never down, and the Saints are a candidate to move up the board again in the 2024 NFL draft.

Pro Football Focus analyst Brad Spielberger recently proposed six first-round trade scenarios that he would like to see happen on draft night. Of the six deals that he drew up, the New Orleans Saints were involved in a trade with the Chicago Bears.

In this scenario, Spielberger has the Saints trading up from Nos. 14 to 9 in the first round. In doing so, the Saints would give up picks Nos. 45 and 168 and receive No. 75 in return. That’s exchanging second- and fifth-round picks for a third rounder. Here’s why Spielberger said the Saints should make this deal:

“A tackle already made sense for the Saints with question marks on the left side, as 2022 first-rounder Trevor Penning has not panned out thus far and veterans James Hurst and 2023 starter Andrus Peat — who is still unsigned — are not long-term starting options. Now, with news that stalwart right tackle Ryan Ramczyk has unfortunately not recovered as well as the team had hoped from knee surgery, tackle is by far the biggest need for this roster headed into 2024.

The Saints get ahead of the New York Jets at No. 10, who could still be in the market for a top tackle prospect despite adding Tyron Smith and Morgan Moses this offseason — both are signed only through 2024 — and the Las Vegas Raiders at No. 13. New Orleans has never shied away from a trade-up for a desired player, and this year could be no different, with a glaring need at one of the most important positions in the sport and with veteran quarterback Derek Carr in need of better protection.

Fashanu has great feet to cleanly kick slide and also reset against counters, and he allowed just 16 quarterback pressures and zero sacks over the past two seasons, earning an 88.4 pass-blocking grade in 2023 with an 82.0 true pass set pass-blocking grade. He appears to be sliding a bit in draft conversations, at least in the media’s eyes, even after many viewed him as the No. 1 tackle if he had been able to declare for the NFL after the 2022 college season.”

Spielberger makes a lot of great points specifically with the Saints’ offensive line struggles. With Trevor Penning and now Ryan Ramczyk each posing some level of uncertainty at the tackle spots, it makes the most sense in leaning in the direction of selecting a tackle in Round 1.

In terms of compensation, it seems a little rich for the Saints to give up that 45th pick in the draft due to the many needs that this team now has. Losing out on a potential starter at a different position doesn’t feel like a risk worth taking for this year’s Saints team, especially with the limited resources they have to play with. Getting a third rounder back is nice but there will be better prospects available earlier on, and the Saints could still get a quality offensive lineman in the first round without trading up. It’s a deep class and they need to take advantage of it.

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