May Saints draft a Michael Thomas insurance coverage coverage at WR? | Saints

The NFL draft is quick approaching, and the New Orleans Saints are presently armed with eight picks.

After fortifying a few of their main weaknesses in free company, New Orleans ought to be ready the place it doesn’t should power a choose at a particular place when its flip comes round. Nonetheless, some positions might use extra assist than others.

With that in thoughts, let’s take a position-by-position look earlier than the draft’s arrival to see who might make sense for the Saints in 2023.

Broad receiver

Want: Low-medium

The lowdown: At first look, the Saints seem like in first rate form at receiver. Chris Olave ought to have been a better a part of the dialog for Offensive Rookie of the 12 months after his 1,042-yard debut season, and he ought to solely get higher as he will get bodily stronger. Ditto for Rashid Shaheed, who thrilled as an undrafted rookie. The ceiling for this unit is dependent upon what model of Michael Thomas the Saints get, but when he’s lastly capable of get previous the damage bug New Orleans ought to have a really sturdy prime three. The query is whether or not the Saints desire a backup plan in case Thomas can’t get previous these points — whereas additionally bracing themselves for Thomas’ potential departure in 2024.

Potential matches: Ohio State WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba, TCU WR Quentin Johnson, Tennessee WR Cedric Tillman, Stanford WR Michael Wilson, SMU WR Rashee Rice, Ole Miss WR Jonathan Mingo, Wake Forest WR A.T. Perry, Virginia WR Dontayvion Wicks, West Virginia WR Bryce Ford-Wheaton

The very best case state of affairs: If New Orleans is within the draft marketplace for a receiver, it ought to be searching for somebody who may be an insurance coverage coverage for Thomas within the occasion he’s not capable of get well from his numerous accidents. Which means including somebody with some dimension and muscle who can win on beneath and intermediate routes and 50/50 passes.

With that understood, it’d be a shock to see the Saints in on gamers like USC’s Jordan Addison, Boston Faculty’s Zay Flowers or North Carolina’s Josh Downs — and even Tennessee’s Jalin Hyatt. The nice factor is the Saints ought to nonetheless have loads of choices to select from.

This isn’t thought of to be a deep receiver class by way of top-end expertise, particularly not when in comparison with latest seasons. However there are fairly a couple of gamers who would possibly match what the Saints are searching for, lots of whom could possibly be obtainable within the center rounds of the draft.

Out of all of them, control Ole Miss receiver Jonathan Mingo.

He’s an explosive athlete (4.46-second 40-yard sprint, 39.5-inch vertical) with a powerful, sturdy construct (6-1, 220) to work the center of the sphere. Mingo didn’t put up big numbers within the Rebels’ run-oriented assault, however he did rack up 10 catches of 30-plus yards final season. He was additionally a workforce captain, which the Saints like.

It wouldn’t be a whole shock to see Mingo obtainable towards the again finish of the third spherical and even early within the fourth. If he’s there, the Saints ought to snatch him up.