Almost everyone believes the New Orleans Saints should take an offensive tackle with their first-round pick, 14th overall. That was not the case on a recent mock draft podcast hosted by ESPN’s Field Yates and NFL Network’s Peter Schrager.
Yates had New Orleans trade up to seventh overall with the Tennessee Titans to select LSU wide receiver Malik Nabers.
“I do think the Saints have a desperate need at offensive tackle,” Yates was quoted as saying. “They may say, ‘Hey, let’s address that in round two.'” They really need a wide receiver here. Their offseason investments are rather modest. I believe New Orleans is a sneaky wide receiver club, and this right here is as good as it gets on the wide receiving front.”
The ESPN expert also stated that he was having fun and did not see this as a real possibility. At the same time, Yates and Schrager are familiar with every NFL team and have a general understanding of what they’re thinking. Both assumed it would take the 14th pick plus the Saints’ 2025 first-round pick to move Nabers up to eighth.
New Orleans has experience dealing several first-round picks to move up and draft a receiver. In 2022, it traded the 18th overall pick, a 2023 first, a 2024 second, and a third-rounder (101) and seventh-rounder (237) for the 16th and 19th overall picks, respectively, as well as a sixth-rounder (194). It then traded the 16th pick, as well as a third (98) and fourth-round pick (120), for the 11th pick and selected Chris Olave.
There is serious debate regarding Nabers being the best wide receiver in this class, surpassing Marvin Harrison Jr. As a junior, Nabers caught 89 passes for 1,569 yards and 14 touchdowns for college football’s greatest offense last season. Drafting him or any of the best receivers is likely one of the few exceptions to New Orleans’ decision not to choose an offensive lineman. With Olave and Nabers, the Saints would have one of the most promising wide receiver duos in the NFL.
Would the Youngsville, Louisiana native desire that, though? He was born and reared in the state, just over two hours from the Superdome. It makes perfect sense that he would want to stay home and play for the NFL team he grew up so close to. In December, Nabers appeared on Instagram Live with his quarterback and predicted top-three pick, Jayden Daniels. Daniels questioned if they were a package deal, and Nabers said, “I’m not going to the Saints.”
This was also five months ago. We’re not sure why he said it or whether he still feels that way, but it’s not a good response if you’re a Saints fan. Why did he single out the Saints? Why did he claim he wouldn’t go to New Orleans?
This might all be for naught if the Saints remain at 14th and sign an offensive lineman, as most assume.
