Tag: visits

Saints hosting Tennessee QB Hendon Hooker on official facility visit

NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reports the Saints are flying in Tennessee QB Hendon Hooker, one of 30 prospects they can host on an official facility visit:

Well that’s something: NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reports that the New Orleans Saints are flying in Tennessee Volunteers quarterback Hendon Hooker for an official visit on Tuesday, making him one of the 30 prospects in the 2023 NFL draft that the Saints are allowed to host for private meetings at the team facility in Metairie.

You’d think the Saints wouldn’t be interested in drafting another quarterback highly after signing Derek Carr to a massive contract in free agency, but they designed that contract with an exit ramp just two years into the four-year deal. If Carr doesn’t meet expectations, it could be worthwhile to have an experienced backup quarterback ready to go in the near future.

Hooker is one of the most prolific passers in this draft class, even if he’s going to need some time to adapt to NFL standards after running a timing-and-spacing based offense that took advantage of some quirks to the college game. He’s also an able threat to make plays on the ground with his legs.

But there are some warts on his scouting report. For one thing, Hooker is coming off a season-ending ACL injury, though he’s said he expects to participate in training camp wherever he’s drafted. For another, he’s one of the older prospects in this year’s rookie class, and if he doesn’t play until 2025, he won’t see meaningful snaps until he’s 28 years old.

No one cares about that if he plays at a high level for a decade once he’s in the lineup, but it would be really tough to justify passing on players who could help the Saints right now in the top two or three rounds. We’ll see where he ends up on draft day.

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Saints visit with Houston QB Clayton Tune after Senior Bowl audition

The New Orleans Saints scheduled a visit with Houston Cougars QB prospect Clayton Tune after his Senior Bowl audition:

The New Orleans Saints scheduled a visit with Houston Cougars quarterback prospect Clayton Tune after his audition at the Senior Bowl earlier this offseason, reports KPRC2 Houston’s Aaron Wilson, who adds that a couple of other teams showing interest include the Cleveland Browns, Dallas Cowboys, and Houston Texans. Tune, 24, projects to be picked in the middling rounds of the 2023 NFL draft — as high as round three, maybe as low as round six. Teams are using the weeks ahead to nail down his grade and relative value within the draft class.

He completed 67.4% of his throws for 4,069 yards and 40 touchdown passes (against 10 interceptions) last season, having also gained 544 rushing yards and 5 touchdown runs. He put together a very impressive athletic profile after weighing in at 6-foot-2 1/2 and 220 pounds, timing the 40-yard dash in 4.64 seconds and posting a pro shuttle time of 4.25 seconds. He also logged a 37 1/2-inch vertical jump and a 10-foot-2 broad jump. It made for a rare Relative Athletic Score of 9.8.

Right now the Saints have just three quarterbacks under contract for 2023, between the newly-signed starter (Derek Carr), the veteran backup (Jameis Winston), and a holdover from last year’s practice squad (Jake Luton). It would make sense to invest in a developmental prospect like Tune who can back up Carr once Winston leaves in free agency next offseason. The Saints also scheduled a throwing session with Incarnate Word quarterback Lindsey Scott Jr., so at least some rookie passers are on their radar.

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Report: Saints met with top 2023 draft prospect Will Anderson Jr.

Tide 100.9 FM’s Aidan Dollins reports the Saints met with Alabama star pass rusher Will Anderson Jr., the top prospect in the 2023 NFL draft:

Huh. Well there’s something. Will Anderson Jr. stood on his numbers from the NFL Scouting Combine at Alabama’s pro day on Thursday, but he did speak with the media on hand when he wasn’t busy shaking hands with the dozens of pro personnel in attendance. And he told Tide 100.9 FM co-host Aidan Dollins that one of the teams he met with most recently is the New Orleans Saints, along with two teams picking in the top 10 of the 2023 NFL draft (the Seattle Seahawks at No. 5 and the Chicago Bears at No. 9), among “a couple other teams.” It appears he’s in high demand.

For context, and just in case you forgot, Anderson is the top prospect in the 2023 draft class. Not top-10, not top-5; he’s the clear-cut consensus best player available, though positional value puts quarterbacks like his Alabama teammate Bryce Young and Ohio State’s CJ Stroud ahead of him on some rankings. If either of them had stayed in school another year he’d be the second overall draft pick at worst.

The 6-foot-3, 253 pounder has racked up 65, 82, and 60 quarterback pressures in three years for Nick Saban’s defense while racking up 34.5 sacks and 58.5 tackles for loss in just 41 career games, using his 33 7/8-inch arms to bring down quarterback after quarterback and keep opposing blockers off of him. He ran the 40-yard dash in just 4.6 seconds with a blazing 10-yard split of 1.61 seconds. It would be nice to have a full athletic profile with agility testing and explosiveness scores, but that wouldn’t exactly help him get drafted any higher than he’s expected to go already.

So, uh, why are the Saints even bothering to talk to him? Could they be looking to push all their chips in and trade all the way up from No. 29, seeing him as their missing piece from a Super Bowl championship? They sure do need more pass rushers, but probably not.

Almost certainly not. Anderson didn’t discuss the depth and content of that conversation; it could’ve been as simple as a Saints scout or position coach asking him about one of his teammates or getting a contact number should they want to have a longer chat later on. By the time the draft rolls around nearly every team has met with almost every player, including teams like the Saints who are picking at the end of the first round and prospects like Anderson who are projected to be picked at the beginning of it.

But it’s good to be prepared. Crazy things can happen on draft day. No one predicted that Laremy Tunsil would be available at No. 13 overall back in 2016. The Saints met with Ed Oliver in 2019, when they didn’t even own a first-round pick. Their intentions are their own. But hey, it sure does make draft season more exciting. This is the phase on the NFL calendar when spicy rumors and speculation are all the rage. And the spice must flow.

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Dennis Allen, Jeff Ireland to represent Saints at Ohio State and Alabama pro days

Dennis Allen and Jeff Ireland plan to represent the Saints at pro days for Ohio State and Alabama this week. They’ll get a good look at many top 2023 draft prospects:

Two of the New Orleans Saints’ top decision-makers will be getting a good look at some of the best prospects in the 2023 NFL draft this week. Nola.com’s Jeff Duncan reports that head coach Dennis Allen and college scouting director Jeff Ireland are planning to attend the pro days for Ohio State (on Wednesday, March 22) and Alabama (on Thursday, March 23) with dozens of draft-eligible players in attendance. Expect multiple position coaches and area scouts to accompany them so they can get eyes on as many prospects as possible. Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer adds that Saints general manager Mickey Loomis will also be in Columbus for Ohio State’s pro day.

Are the Saints tipping their hand by sending Allen and Ireland to these big-name pro day workouts? Maybe, maybe not. They were both in attendance for Ohio State’s pro day last year (along with wide receivers coach Kodi Burns) to scout Chris Olave and his teammates, and liked what they saw so much they were moved to trade up for Olave in the first round of the 2022 draft. That doesn’t necessarily mean history will repeat itself, but it’s still interesting to see which school pro days the Saints are prioritizing.

Here the top draft-eligible prospects from both Ohio State and Alabama:

Versatile Minnesota DB Jordan Howden schedules private workout with Saints

Versatile Minnesota DB Jordan Howden scheduled a private workout with the Saints. He fits their athletic prototype and brings experience in the slot and at safety:

Here’s a prospect who looks like a New Orleans Saints draft pick through-and-through. Minnesota Golden Gophers defensive back Jordan Howden scheduled a private workout with the Saints after his impressive pro day, per The Draft Network’s Ryan Fowler.

Howden weighed in at 5-foot-11 1/2, 203 pound with long 32 1/4-inch arms and timed the 40-yard dash in 4.49 seconds. More impressive are his times with a 10-yard split of 1.53 seconds and a three-cone drill of 6.87 seconds. He also posted a 39.5-inch vertical jump, helping to generate a Relative Athletic Score of 8.8. All of those numbers line up with New Orleans’ established preferences in the secondary.

But what does he bring as a player? Howden predominately covered the slot for Minnesota, lining up there on 1,391 of his 3,027 career defensive snaps per Pro Football Focus charting. He also played often at free safety (978 snaps) and in the box (621), occasionally moving up to the line of scrimmage or out wide at cornerback. That’s exactly the sort of versatility the Saints value. He’s broken up 16 passes thrown into his coverage over the years.

Maybe the best moment in Howden’s college career was a game-saving interception in the end zone against Penn State back in 2019, which helped the Gophers hand the then-undefeated Nittany Lions their first loss of the season. But he plays consistently clean football with few missed tackles (9 of his 22 misses came in his 2019 sophomore season) and just two penalties in his career. He’s currently projected to be a late-round pick in the 2023 NFL draft, but he’s doing well in the pre-draft process and more productive workouts and meetings with teams will only continue to boost his draft stock.

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Saints schedule pre-draft workout with Georgia Tech linebacker Charlie Thomas

The Saints have scheduled a pre-draft workout with Georgia Tech fifth-year linebacker Charlie Thomas, an undersized prospect with ample experience:

Linebacker is something of a position of need for the New Orleans Saints ahead of the 2023 NFL draft, so it’s good to see them being proactive about one of their vulnerabilities. All Yellow Jackets’ Jackson Caudell reports that the Saints have scheduled a pre-draft workout with Georgia Tech linebacker prospect Charlie Thomas, who impressed scouts and coaches at the East-West Shrine Bowl in Las Vegas.

Thomas is a fifth-year linebacker who developed considerable experience at Georgia Tech, having logged an impressive 2,457 defensive snaps in his college career. He’s also played 367 snaps on special teams, which would be his best path to earning a roster spot in New Orleans. His 4.52-second time in the 40-yard dash helps his chances.

He’s a solid all-around athlete, but size limitations might be tough to overcome. Thomas was listed at 207 pounds last season and bulked up to 216 pounds for the Shrine Bowl, but his 6-foot-2 1/2 frame and 31 1/2-inch arms make for an above-average at 77 1/4-inch wingspan. Maybe he can continue packing on muscle and compete for a spot on the Saints kicking units. Right now Thomas is projected to be picked in the sixth or seventh rounds of April’s 2023 draft.

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Cowboys host 3 veteran free agents, including two-time Super Bowl RB

RB Ronald Jones II, LB Travin Howard, and OL Chuma Edoga were scheduled for physicals and evaluations at The Star as free agency continues. | From @ToddBrock24f7

The Cowboys were scheduled to bring in a trio of free agents as they look to fill in a few roster gaps with experienced talent that should come somewhat cheaper than the big-name veterans signed during last week’s initial rush.

Running back Ronald Jones II, linebacker Travin Howard, and offensive lineman Chuma Edoga were expected to undergo physicals and be evaluated Monday at the The Star in Frisco, according to Michael Gehlken of the Dallas Morning News.

Jones played high school ball in the Metroplex before a three-year college career at USC. A second-round draft pick of Tampa Bay in 2018, Jones logged 2,174 rushing yards over four seasons with the Bucs, winning a Super Bowl in the process. In 2022, he signed with Kansas City, but he got into just six games with the Chiefs; he won another Super Bowl ring in February but did not take the field during the game.

Howard played collegiately at TCU and was a seventh-round draft pick by the Rams in 2018. He made just 29 regular-season game appearances over three years; his most memorable highlight came in the 2021 NFC Championship, when he picked off a Jimmy Garoppolo pass in the final two minutes to send the Rams to Super Bowl LVI. He was out for most of 2022 with a core muscle injury, but Cowboys special teams coordinator John Fassel is familiar with Howard after their time together in L.A.

Edoga was a third-round selection by the Jets in 2019 out of USC. After three seasons in New York as a tackle who could play either the right or left side, the lineman was claimed off waivers by Atlanta and saw work at left guard.

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Saints schedule Top 30 pre-draft visit with UAB running back DeWayne McBride

The Saints have scheduled a Top 30 pre-draft visit with UAB running back DeWayne McBride, a mid-round prospect in the 2023 NFL draft:

The New Orleans Saints just added a veteran running back in free agent Jamaal Williams, but they’re not finished improving depth behind Alvin Kamara just yet. Per Matt Zenitz of On3.com, the Saints are one of several teams scheduled to host UAB running back DeWayne McBride.

McBride is projected to be picked in the third or fourth round of the 2023 NFL draft, having averaged a blistering 7.2 yards per carry with 36 career touchdown runs. McBride has solid size by NFL standards at 5-foot-10 and 209 pounds, but he needs to show teams he can be a factor on passing downs. He’s only caught 5 receptions in his college career and logged just 130 snaps in pass protection.

New Orleans has a strong tandem in Kamara and Williams, but depth behind them leaves something to be desired — backups Eno Benjamin and Derrick Gore are returning for 2023, and that’s it. If Kamara is suspended for six or more games, as is expected, Williams could use some help shouldering the load. Adding a prospect like McBride in the middling rounds would make a lot of sense.

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Tracking the New Orleans Saints’ Top 30 prospect visits ahead of 2023 NFL draft

Tracking the New Orleans Saints’ Top 30 prospect visits ahead of 2023 NFL draft: Which college players could soon be wearing black and gold?

And we’re off. The New Orleans Saints have begun scheduling visits with prospects eligible to be picked in the 2023 NFL draft at their team facility in Metairie. Because teams are limited to just 30 of these private meetings, they’re often referred to as the “Top 30” visits each spring. Teams can host 2023 draft prospects at their headquarters from March 7 to April 19, which isn’t as much time as you’d think when 32 different franchises are fighting for time with the same players.

These meetings don’t necessarily mean that the Saints are going to pick a player. Sometimes it’s a smokescreen to disguise interest, or an interview looking for insight to a future opponent. And not all 30 of the visits the Saints are scheduling will be reported; left guard Andrus Peat made the trip to New Orleans before the 2015 draft, but it went unreported in the media before the Saints picked him in the first round.

Eventually, every team will have met with nearly every prospect in the draft at some point. So take these news updates with a grain of salt. Still, it’s exciting to see new names linked to the black and gold:

Fast-rising Purdue CB prospect Cory Trice schedules pre-draft Saints visit

Fast-rising Purdue CB prospect Cory Trice schedules pre-draft Saints visit, one of the “Top 30” meetings at New Orleans’ headquarters:

The Draft Network’s Ryan Fowler reports that the New Orleans Saints are one of at least two teams to schedule an official facility visit with Purdue cornerback Cory Trice Jr., a fast-rising prospect in the 2023 NFL draft. Because teams are only allowed to host 30 prospects at their headquarters each offseason, you’ll see these frequently described as “Top 30” visits.

Trice is very interesting. Though he’s been projected to be picked in the seventh round in recent months (where the Saints will be on the board twice at Nos. 227 and 257), he’s crushed the pre-draft process by earning top marks in agility drills and posting an 11-foot broad jump. That’s after he weighed in at 6-foot-3 and 206 pounds with 32 3/8-inch arms, which are all impressive. His time in the 40-yard dash (4.47 seconds) helped him achieve a Relative Athletic Score of 9.63. It wouldn’t be a shock to see his stock climb into rounds five or six.

An injury limited Trice to just 100 defensive snaps in 2021, but he bounced back in 2022 with 9 pass breakups (intercepting a pair of passes thrown his way) in 13 games. He also has experience lining up safety, even if most of his Boilermakers career was spent lining up out wide at cornerback. The Saints are firm believers in stacking up depth at corner, and if they believe Trice could be an inexpensive backup with room to develop, he would make a lot of sense in this year’s NFL draft.

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