Terron Armstead, Cameron Jordan share their Saints draft-day wish lists

Cameron Jordan wants the new Orleans Saints to trade up in the 2020 NFL Draft for Isaiah Simmons, while Terron Armstead is more conservative

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Who do you want the New Orleans Saints to select in the first round of the 2020 NFL Draft? Some current Saints standouts have their own takes on the subject, which isn’t totally surprising — with little else to do and no organized offseason program to keep them busy, they’re probably watching highlight reels on YouTube and firing up mock draft machines just like the rest of us.

Defensive end Cameron Jordan and left tackle Terron Armstead chatted about their different draft opinions on Twitter earlier Wednesday, with Armstead advocating for several prospects once the Saints go on the clock at No. 24.

LSU Tigers wide receiver Justin Jefferson and linebacker Patrick Queen were each high on Armstead’s list, as was Alabama wideout Henry Ruggs III.

“No insider trading,” Armstead joked, “That’s just my opinion.”

Jordan responded with his own hope for a Saints draft-day haul, though his goal was considerably loftier: Clemson dynamo Isaiah Simmons, a versatile defender who has played both linebacker and safety at a high level. If it takes this year’s first-round pick and next year’s selections in the third and fourth rounds to make it happen, Jordan said, so be it.

“With a staff like ours (particularly the head coach) you never know,” Armstead replied, referencing Sean Payton’s tendency to trade up. The Saints have made a move up the board in every draft Payton has conducted, except for his first back in 2006.

“But I think we stay put this year,” Armstead said.

Still, Jordan pressed on, explaining his vision of a Simmons and first-team All-Pro linebacker Demario Davis defending the middle of the field together. Add another trade up into the second round for a wide receiver to round out the group of Michael Thomas, Tre’Quan Smith, and Emmanuel Sanders, he argued, and you’d be set on both sides of the ball. But if the Saints end up not moving so boldly, well, he’d be content to add an electric receiver at No. 24.

It’s awesome to see these conversations happen in real time; while players have probably always speculated privately on who their new teammates might be, it’s something else to see them chopping it up so publicly. Maybe Armstead and Jordan can sneak their way into the Zoom-within-a-Zoom teleconference setup the Saints front office has assembled for a long draft weekend, and lobby Payton directly. Check out their full exchange where we’ve embedded it below:

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