Sunday, March 13, 2022

New Orleans Saints 2022 NFL Mock Draft Roundup 5.0

Throughout the year and leading up to the 2022 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:

SI - Hanson (3/11)

18. Kenny Pickett, QB, Pittsburgh

Pickett's hand size (8½") is not much smaller than Taysom Hill's (8¾"), but playing in a controlled environment for eight (or nine) home games and a road game in Atlanta every year would help to minimize (no pun intended) any potential impact. With good arm strength and mobility, Pickett moves quickly through his progressions and throws well on the move. After throwing 39 touchdowns and 25 interceptions from 2017 to '20, Pickett threw an ACC-record 42 touchdowns to only seven interceptions last season.

CBS Sports - Fornelli (3/11)

18. Garrett Wilson, WR, Ohio State

I don't know who the Saints will have at QB next season, and they may address the position here. If they go a different route, whoever they end up with will be happy to have Wilson to throw to. Wilson accelerates at a ridiculous rate, and he is excellent at making contested catches in traffic. He has some work to do on his footwork and route-running, but he has No. 1 WR potential.

San Diego Union Tribune - Brown (3/10)

18. Kenny Pickett, QB, Pittsburgh

The Saints are either drafting a quarterback or wide receiver in the first round. The Heisman finalist is most dangerous outside of the pocket when he goes off script. Pickett has good size, overall athleticism and solid arm talent, but needs to work on his anticipation throws and his comfort within the pocket. His hand size (or lack there of) has been a story, but he handled himself perfectly in Mobile at the Senior Bowl, and at the combine, where every team who interviewed him came away impressed.

The Draft Network - Crabbs (3/9)

18. Kenny Pickett, QB, Pittsburgh

The Russell Wilson deal, through three or four degrees of separation, bubbles all the way into the late teens. With no cap space to work with, New Orleans' odds of running it back with a top quarterback suddenly seems like a long-shot, so you may as well lock one down here.

ESPN - McShay (3/9)

18. Kenny Pickett, QB, Pittsburgh

When the combine began last week, there were concerns about Pickett's 8½-inch hand size, which is worrisome for a quarterback who has struggled in bad-weather games and with turnovers. But it ended with a great performance from him throwing the football during on-field workouts. I was impressed with the way he put all of the morning's chatter behind him and put on a show. I still have Liberty's Malik Willis ranked higher, but Pickett is the most NFL-ready signal-caller in the class. New Orleans, which had the NFL's lowest passing yards per game (187.4) and tied for the worst completion percentage (58.1%) last season, would be getting a quarterback with good touch, field vision and accuracy.

The door is still open for Jameis Winston to re-sign, which might change the approach, and Taysom Hill is of course under contract. But we know Hill isn't the answer, and Pickett would offer the Saints a potential long-term solution to their signal-caller woes for new coach Dennis Allen.

NFL.com - Zierlein (3/8)

18. Kenyon Green, IOL, Texas A&M

The Saints have quite a few needs on the offensive side, but Rome wasn't built in a day. New Orleans grabs a body-mover and plug-and-play starter at guard.

Touchdown Wire - Schofield (3/8)

18. Kenny Pickett, QB, Pittsburgh

New head coach Dennis Allen and offensive coordinator Pete Carmichael have a decision to make at quarterback. They could look to run things back with Jameis Winston, but assuming they do not, then Kenny Pickett could be an ideal fit for the offense we anticipate Carmichael installing. Pickett also fits what teams are looking for from a decision-making and mental standpoint.

Plus, for those worried about Pickett's hand size, playing eight games in the climate-controlled environment of the Mercedes-Benz Superdome could ease those concerns.

MORE TEAMS: All NFL Team Mock Draft Roundups

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