Good news, everyone: the New Orleans Saints finally have a first-round pick in the 2023 NFL draft after agreeing on a trade that sent Sean Payton to the Denver Broncos. But what can they do with it? To figure that out, we’ve updated our seven-round Saints mock draft reflecting the picks the team actually has to work with now.
I’m going into this mock draft with the expectation that the Saints will find a starting quarterback ahead of the event, likely in free agency (or they could trade for one, but that’s its own can of worms) while addressing some other big priorities. So don’t panic when you don’t see that first rounder spent on your favorite quarterback prospect. Remember, free agency happens before the draft, and that’s where the Saints are likeliest to solve their problems.
So look at this as an opportunity to introduce yourself to some new 2023 draft prospects more than anything else. If we know anything about Mickey Loomis, it’s that the Saints general manager isn’t finished making moves. This projection is going to change wildly in the weeks ahead: