Draft day is finally here.
The New Orleans Saints’ original first-round pick now belongs to the Philadelphia Eagles after their trade for an extra first-rounder in 2022, when the Saints grabbed Chris Olave and Trevor Penning. But New Orleans moved back into Thursday’s first round when it acquired the No. 29 pick from the Denver Broncos in exchange for coach Sean Payton.
So, who will be the guy at No. 29? We used Pro Football Focus’ mock draft simulator to see who might be available. Then our writers took a spin in the general manager’s chair.
Here is how PFF saw the first 28 picks playing out when we ran their draft simulator.
- Carolina: Alabama QB Bryce Young
- Houston: Ohio State QB C.J. Stroud
- Arizona: Georgia DT Jalen Carter
- Indianapolis: Kentucky QB Will Levis
- Seattle: Illinois CB Devon Witherspoon
- Detroit: Alabama DE Will Anderson
- Las Vegas: Northwestern OT Peter Skoronski
- Atlanta: Florida QB Anthony Richardson
- Chicago: Oregon CB Christian Gonzalez
- Philadelphia: Ohio State WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba
- Tennessee: Texas RB Bijan Robinson
- Houston: Utah TE Dalton Kincaid
- Green Bay Packers: Georgia DE/OLB Nolan Smith
- New England: Georgia OT Broderick Jones
- New York Jets: Alabama S Brian Branch
- Washington: Ohio State OT Paris Johnson Jr.
- Pittsburgh: Maryland CB Deonte Banks
- Detroit: Notre Dame TE Michael Mayer
- Tampa: Pittsburgh DT Calijah Kancey
- Seattle: Clemson DE Myles Murphy
- Los Angeles Chargers: TCU WR Quentin Johnston
- Baltimore: Penn State CB Joey Porter Jr.
- Minnesota: Mississippi State CB Emmanuel Forbes
- Jacksonville: Texas Tech DE Tyree Wilson
- New York Giants: Iowa State DE/OLB Will McDonald IV
- Dallas: Oklahoma OT Anton Harrison
- Buffalo: Iowa DE Lukas Van Ness
- Cincinnati: USC WR Jordan Addison
And here is the list of best players available, according to PFF’s rankings: Clemson DT Bryan Bresee, Tennessee OT Darnell Wright, Florida OG O’Cyrus Torrence, Ohio State OT Dawand Jones, Kansas State DE Felix Anudike-Uzomah, Boston College WR Zay Flowers, Alabama RB Jahmyr Gibbs, Michigan DT Mazi Smith, Georgia TE Darnell Washington, Iowa LB Jack Campbell, Oregon State TE Luke Musgrave.
And now, on to our writers’ picks.
Beat writer Luke Johnson: Clemson DT Bryan Bresee
It really stung seeing Iowa defensive end Lukas Van Ness going off the board two picks before my turn came around, but I have nice consolation prize in Clemson’s Bresee. Questions have surrounded Bresee and pushed him toward the back end of the first round, specifically with his recent injury history — something that probably makes Saints fans groan. But New Orleans could really use a disruptor for their defensive interior, and Bresee is that. He’s big, strong and athletic, and if everything clicks for him, the Saints should get great value out of this pick.
Beat writer Terrin Waack: Kansas State DE Felix Anudike-Uzomah
Truth be told, if Texas running back Bijan Robinson had not already been selected, I was going to pick him for New Orleans. Saints general manager Mickey Loomis said Wednesday that Alvin Kamara’s pending legal case has no impact on the team’s drafting decisions, but I think it should. Best to be prepared for the worst-case scenario. Nonetheless, I have to pick somebody else. So I’ll go with Kansas State defensive end Felix Anudike-Uzomah. A hole remains in the Saints’ roster from the loss of Marcus Davenport to the Minnesota Vikings in free agency. Bringing on a young player who can learn and grow under veteran Cam Jordan will set up the Saints for when the 33-year-old eventually (ever?) retires, or for when the defensive line simply needs more depth this season.
Columnist Rod Walker: Clemson DT Bryan Bresee
The simulator didn’t do me any favors in taking Pittsburgh defensive tackle Calijah Kancey with the 19th overall pick. I still think he’s the Saints’ pick if he happens to fall to 29. Heck, I wouldn’t be surprised if they try to trade up to grab the guy whom some have compared to future Hall of Famer Aaron Donald. If they don’t get him, they’ll take Clemson defensive tackle Bryan Bresee. He checks the boxes the Saints are looking for, and more importantly, he fills a void now that David Onyemata and Shy Tuttle are playing elsewhere. I realize that taking a running back in the first round isn’t popular anymore, but Alabama’s Jahmyr Gibbs, if still available, may be too good to pass up.
Columnist Jeff Duncan: OL Joe Tippmann, Wisconsin
This would be a less-than-ideal scenario for the Saints. If the top half of the first round plays out like this, then I could see them trading up to, say, No. 18 to try to land Michael Mayer or one of the pass rushers on the board — Murphy, Van Ness, McDonald, Kancey or Wilson. Nos. 18 and 21 are hot spots for a trade-up. Without a deal, I think the Saints would take the best big man on the board, either Bresee or one of the top interior offensive linemen — Tippman, Torrence or Steve Avila. I gave the nod to Tippmann because of his versatility.
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