New Orleans Saints 2021 NFL Mock Draft Roundup 8.0
Throughout the year and leading up to the 2021 NFL draft, we will update our New Orleans Saints Mock Draft Roundup showing picks for the New Orleans Saints from several prominent sites and draft analysts.
The following are picks in recent mock drafts for the Saints:
Not only did the Saints release Janoris Jenkins, but Marshon Lattimore (and all of the team's corners) will be unrestricted free agents in 2022 except for Grant Haley (RFA) and Keith Washington (ERFA), per data from Spotrac. And even though the Saints salary-cap situation improves slightly in 2022, only five teams have less salary-cap space in 2022, per Over the Cap.
Former high school teammates with CB1 (Patrick Surtain II) of this mock, Campbell isn't the refined prospect his former high school teammate is, but the former five-star recruit's blend of speed (sub-4.4 forty), size/length (6-foot-1, 32-inch arms) and change-of-direction ability is as special as any cornerback prospect in this draft class.
The cap-strapped Saints' roster took a hit in March, with multiple impact players heading elsewhere for more money or, in the case of Drew Brees, retiring. Will it be Jameis Winston or Taysom Hill at quarterback -- or both? Regardless, New Orleans has to have more weapons in the pass game, especially with Emmanuel Sanders and Jared Cook not coming back. Moore operates mainly out of the slot, and he has the hands and burst to pick up big chunks of yardage. He was second in the nation to DeVonta Smith in catches and yards last season.
After the departure of Janoris Jenkins, the Saints are thin at corner behind Marshon Lattimore and don't have the cap space to add one. Newsome solidified his status as a first-round pick with strong testing numbers at his pro day after a standout junior season.
Now that Drew Brees has officially retired, the Saints will move forward with Jameis Winston and/or Taysom Hill. It would probably be best to try and give the offense easy throws/decisions and Toney, although a bit undersized, is an explosive, quick-twitch athlete, who not only caught 70 passes for 984 yards and 10 TDs but also ran the ball 19 times for 8.5 yards per carry. He should be able to make the New Orleans quarterback's life easier as a moveable piece in the Sean Payron offense.
Emmanuel Sanders' release and no money for free agency might necessitate this move. Moore would be a nice fit opposite a healthy Michael Thomas. An impressive pro day should boost him into the back-end of the first round.
The cap-constrained Saints were relatively quiet in free agency, making a handful of strategic signings and re-upping Jameis Winston to a deal that's laden with incentives. The draft is their chance to add real talent to their defense. Bolton fits the bill. He's an instinctive and rangy defender who plays with an aggressive mindset.
Cap issues kept the Saints from being active in free agency, so they'll have to fill their biggest holes -- among them, another cornerback opposite Marshon Lattimore -- in the draft. Tyson Campbell impressed at Georgia's Pro Day and has an excellent mixture of size, speed, length and fluidity.