Now that the 2024 NFL Scouting Combine is in the books, we can begin the process of paring down who and who may not make sense for the New Orleans Saints when they are on the clock for April’s NFL draft.
This is not to say the Saints’ future draft picks are all on this list, as the scouting process isn’t so simple as ranking players based on measurable traits — some may come off the board for unanswered character or injury concerns, among other reasons.
But based on the Saints’ recent history, and based on their current roster needs, it wouldn’t be surprising for many of these players to be on New Orleans’ radar as the pre-draft process turns to Top 30 visits and pro day workouts.
To assemble this list, players had to hit the Saints usual size, weight and athletic thresholds (or what they are generally believed to be, since that is proprietary information). All the players listed scored 9 or better on the Relative Athletic Score (RAS), a metric that scores a player’s athleticism relative to their size and position on a 0-10 scale, with 10 being the highest.
Offensive tackles
This is clearly a position of need for the Saints, even if Ryan Ramczyk is healthy enough to return in 2024 — and this looks to be a really good year to address offensive tackle in the draft. There were a lot of players who fit the Saints’ usual benchmarks for size and athleticism, and that depth means the team doesn’t necessarily have to force its hand and use its top pick on a tackle, because there may be a solid option available in the second round.
Georgia OT Amarius Mims (6-7, 340 pounds, 9.50 RAS): The NFL scouts and evaluators in attendance surely knew Mims was going to put up a strong showing at the combine, and Mims didn’t disappoint. There aren’t many 340-pound people on the planet who can move like Mims (5.07-second 40-yard dash). The lack of college experience (only eight starts) will hurt Mims, but it might be the only thing that makes him available at No. 14.
Notre Dame OT Joe Alt (6-8, 321, 9.91 RAS): Alt is widely considered the top tackle in the draft and almost certainly won’t make it to No. 14, but this is what the ideal candidate looks like, and if the Saints traded up for any non-quarterback in the draft, Alt would make sense as a target.
Alabama OT JC Latham (6-5, 342, N/A RAS): Latham is the only player on this list who did not test at the combine — a lingering ankle injury kept him out of agility tests. But he did measure in and checked all those boxes, especially when it comes to length. His 84-inch wingspan probably earned a star next to it in some Saints scout’s notebook.
Other notables: Penn State OT Olu Fashaunu (6-6, 312, 9.44), Oregon State OT Taliese Fuaga (6-5, 324, 9.71), Houston OT Patrick Paul (6-7, 331, 9.80), Oklahoma OT Tyler Guyton (6-7, 322, 9.62), UCF OT Tylan Grable (6-5, 306, 9.83), Washington OT Roger Rosengarten (6-5, 308, 9.59), Wyoming OT Frank Crum (6-8, 313, 9.82)
Edge rushers
If tackle isn’t the most obvious pressing need, edge rusher probably is. The Saints did not get very much production from their defensive end group last year, and even if Cam Jordan gets healthy and rebounds from his worst statistical year since his rookie season, he is still turning 35 years old this summer. New Orleans needs some playmaking juice.
Florida State DE Jared Verse (6-3, 254, 9.53): Verse checked in a bit shorter (he’s an eighth of an inch shy of 6-4) and lighter than expected, and he therefore falls a bit short of the Saints usual prototypes, but everything else looked great at the combine. He still measured in with a nearly 80-inch wingspan, and showed off some explosive athleticism (35-inch vertical, 4.6-second 40-yard dash).
Alabama edge Dallas Turner (6-2, 247, 9.47) and Penn State edge Chop Robinson (6-2, 254, 9.68): Let’s drop both of these players in the same bucket. It’s unlikely the Saints would’ve taken either of them in past years, at least not with their first-round pick, because both are too short and too light for the Saints’ scheme. Maybe that changes this year. Both Turner and Robinson showed off some crazy athletic traits.
Other notables: UCLA DE Laiatu Latu (6-4, 259, 9.19) and Texas Tech DE Myles Cole (6-6, 278, 9.96)
Receivers
The Saints have some nice young wideouts on the team, but they do still have a hole when it comes to a particular skillset. Michael Thomas almost certainly is going to be playing elsewhere next season, and the Saints could still use a big-bodied possession receiver, as well as someone with some catch-and-run ability. There were lots of receivers who turned in standout combine performances.
Washington WR Rome Odunze (6-2, 212, 9.91): After his combine performance, it seems less and less likely that Odunze is going to make it all the way to No. 14, but of this group, he’d be the most intriguing addition to the Saints’ current group in terms of his skillset.
Florida State WR Keon Coleman (6-3, 213, 9.23): Though Coleman didn’t post a great 40 time, NextGenStats posted some intriguing numbers from his on-field drills. He reached 20.36 miles per hour during the gauntlet drill, the fastest time from any receiver the last two years, according to the service.
LSU WR Brian Thomas Jr. (6-2, 209, 9.97): Thomas might’ve made himself some money at the combine. He already had elite production against premier competition in college; then he added a superb performance in Indianapolis, running the second-fastest 40-yard dash (4.33 seconds) among the receivers in attendance.
Other notables: Florida State WR Johnny Wilson (6-6. 231, 9.73), Texas WR Adonai Mitchell (6-2, 205, 9.98) North Carolina WR Devontez Walker (6-1, 193, 9.88), South Carolina WR Xavier Legette (6-1, 221, 9.92), Michigan WR Cornelius Johnson (6-2, 212, 9.91), Pittsburgh WR Bub Means (6-1, 212, 9.74), Southeast Missouri State WR Ryan Flournoy (6-0, 202, 9.80)
Other positions
The Saints, of course, will not limit themselves to these three positions. They’ve already informed starting safety Marcus Maye that they intend to release him and could try to find a running back who could immediately contribute in offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak’s scheme. Here were some other notable performers from the combine.
Louisville RB Isaac Guerendo (6-0, 221, 9.98): Guerendo started his career at Wisconsin, where his path to the field was blocked. He put up excellent numbers in one year at Louisville, then had arguably the best combine performance of any player.
Texas S Ryan Watts (6-2, 208, 9.84): Watts played cornerback at Texas, but his size, length and athleticism profile better at safety in the NFL. He enjoyed an excellent combine performance in Indianapolis.
Other notables: Purdue RB Tyrone Tracy Jr. (5-11, 208, 9.87), Florida State RB Trey Benson (6-0, 216, 9.77), Tennessee RB Jaylen Wright (5-10, 214, 9.82), Penn State TE Theo Johnson (6-6, 259, 9.99), Mizzou S Jaylon Carlies (6-2, 227, 9.53), Utah S Cole Bishop (6-2, 206, 9.81), Boston College CB Elijah Jones (6-1, 185, 9.63), Mississippi State CB Decameron Richardson (6-2, 188, 9.77), Notre Dame CB Cam Hart (6-3, 202, 9.82)
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