An impact player at defensive tackle should still be on the Saints draft wish list

What position will the Saints draft first? There's a heavy favorite according to the odds

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

After fortifying some of their major weaknesses in free agency, New Orleans should be in a position where it doesn’t have to force a pick at a specific position when its turn comes around. Still, some positions could use more help than others.

With that in mind, let’s take a position-by-position look before the draft’s arrival to see who could make sense for the Saints in 2023.

Defensive tackle

Need: Not a must anymore, but still up there

The lowdown: Only a little more than a month ago, the Saints had just one defensive tackle under contract. After last year’s starters David Onyemata and Shy Tuttle signed new deals elsewhere, the Saints quickly pivoted to newcomers Khalen Saunders and Nathan Shepherd, then rounded out the group by re-signing Malcolm Roach. Still, this is a unit that could use some play-making juice, and if the right guy is there, that might come at No. 29.

Potential fits: Clemson DT Bryan Bresee, Pittsburgh DT Calijah Kancey, Michigan DT Mazi Smith, Florida DT Gervon Dexter, Wisconsin DT Keeanu Benton, South Carolina DT Zacch Pickens, Boise State DT Scott Matlock

Best case scenario: After Georiga’s Jalen Carter, who despite his recent off-field questions will certainly be gone well before the Saints pick, there are three defensive tackles who could be in consideration when the Saints turn comes around at No. 29. All of them come with questions, though.

Clemson’s Bryan Bresee was once a No. 1 overall recruit, and he played like it as a freshman when he recorded four sacks and a forced fumble. His profile has dimmed somewhat over the last few years after he suffered a torn ACL in 2021 then battled through illness in 2022.

Still, there’s a lot to like about Bresee if he is cleared medically. He has prototype size (6-5, 298) and athleticism (9.61 Relative Athletic Score, among the highest for 2023 defensive tackles). He’s not a lock to be there at No. 29, but he should be in the conversation if he’s available.

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