If the NFL draft were to go perfectly, whom should the Saints pick at No. 29? We discuss.

With the ever-important NFL draft on the horizon, our Saints beat writers and columnists got together for a roundtable discussion on some of the most important questions facing the team. 

Tuesday morning, we discussed Hendon Hooker’s pre-draft visit to Saints headquarters.

Wednesday morning, we discussed the Saints’ top areas of need.

Here’s the third of five questions (and our answers):

If the draft were to go perfectly from the Saints’ perspective, which player would you like to see them take at No. 29?

Luke Johnson: I’m going to cheat a little bit here and give two players: Clemson defensive tackle Bryan Bresee and Texas running back Bijan Robinson. If either of these players is available at No. 29, personally, it would feel like the best-case scenario for the Saints. Maybe it’s more likely that Bresee gets there. The big man has the size and physical tools the Saints love, and there could be some huge untapped potential there with the player. Robinson feels like a big long-shot to be available at No. 29, but you really never know with the way running backs are valued by NFL teams now — and there’s no denying that he’d be an immediate game-breaker wherever he lands. Even with Alvin Kamara and Jamaal Williams on the roster, the Saints could find ways to let Robinson impact the game.

Terrin Waack: Going to name two options from within Louisiana, one solely to back up a previous answer I gave. I already said the Saints should address running back with one of their top picks. So that’s why I’m naming Tulane running back Tyjae Spears here. I am naming LSU defensive end BJ Ojulari, though, for the top pick. The Saints lost three defensive linemen in free agency — David Onyemata, Shy Tuttle and Marcus Davenport. They brought in two defensive tackles to fill the voids left behind by Onyemata and Tuttle. Ojulari could do the same at defensive end, in place of Davenport.

Rod Walker: With the 29th pick of the 2023 NFL Draft, the New Orleans Saints select Calijah Kancey, defensive tackle, University of Pittsburgh. If not Kancey, then Clemson’s Bryan Bresee. The Saints have to get better up front in the middle. Yes, they signed Khalen Saunders and Ntahan Shepherd and re-signed Malcolm Roach, but they still need to shore up the front and get back to their days of stuffing the run. The Aaron Donald comparisons are probably setting expectations way too high, but if Kancey is available at 29, go get him.

Jeff Duncan: I’m with Rod. Kancey would bring an interior playmaking element to the Saints defense they have lacked in recent years. He would immediately upgrade their pass rush, which is a top priority. That said, I’m not sure he will fall to No. 29, and if he does, even if the Saints would take him that high, considering his lack of size (6-foot-1, 281 pounds), which doesn’t fit their prototype for the position. I think his playmaking skill set is worth making an exception on, considering their lack of interior pass rush.