New Orleans Saints have smorgasbord of draft prospects to choose from on Day 2

Heading into Day 2, the New Orleans Saints have a golden opportunity to upgrade their roster with their second and third round picks.

The first night of the NFL Draft hardly went as expected, as there were many head-scratching choices, reaches, and tons of trade action. Some of the would-be top prospects fell further than expected, and has shifted the course of the remaining prospects for Friday’s lineup. Here’s a list of appealing prospects the New Orleans Saints should have their eye on this evening with their 47th and 78th overall picks.

Offensive Guard

• Cody Whitehair (Kansas State) – He’s the best guard prospect out there, and the Saints are in need of an upgrade. If he falls, then it might be an easy decision to make.
• Sebastian Tretola (Arkansas) – He’s not talked about much with the Saints, but he’s a physical presence that could pair well with Dan Roushar as a third round choice.
• Vadal Alexander (LSU) – Could the New Orleans Saints take their first LSU player since Al Woods (2010) in the Sean Payton era? Alexander would be a great addition to the team’s offensive line.
• Christian Westerman (Arizona State) – He’s one of my favorite guard prospects, and could insert himself as a utility knife for the Saints.
• Landon Turner (North Carolina) – If Turner lasts until the third, then he’s my clear choice to anchor the team’s offensive line for years to come.

Pass Rushers

• Noah Spence (Eastern Kentucky) – The ‘stuff’ surrounding him seems to be past him, but the reality is that a first round talent is available on Day 2. The New Orleans Saints could go for a huge knockout by adding another pass rusher like Spence.
• Emmanuel Ogbah (Oklahoma State) – There’s going to be some antsy fans if Ogbah becomes available at No. 47, he has the tools to be successful.
• Kevin Dodd (Clemson) – Shaq Lawson’s partner in crime may be too one-dimensional as a pass rusher. I’m not sold.
• Kamalei Correa (Boise State) – He’s listed as a DE/OLB, and while intriguing, I’d say he’s better suited for a 3-4 scheme.

Defensive Linemen

• A’Shawn Robinson (Alabama) – I wasn’t convinced that he belonged anywhere in the No. 12 overall conversation for the Saints, but clearly there’s some elements to his play that have teams a little concerned.
• Jarran Reed (Alabama) – Once thought of as a solid choice for the New Orleans Saints in the first round, Reed would be an interesting choice on Day 2. He could be someone to watch if the team wants to solidify their defensive line for the next several years.
• Chris Jones (Mississippi State) – He attended the draft, but was not chosen on night one. There’s a lot to love about his play, but we’re basing this off one year as a full-time starter.
• Andrew Billings (Baylor) – I was fairly high on Billings at one point as a potential solution at No. 12 because of his mean streak and domination abilities. He’d be a sneaky addition if the New Orleans Saints go that way.
• Jonathan Bullard (Florida) – He’s a bull-rusher who could offer some versatility as a ‘tweener’, but he might be better suited for a 3-4 scheme.

Wide Receivers

• Sterling Shepard (Oklahoma) – The 5-foot-10 speedy utility weapon doubles as slot receiver and returner.
• Michael Thomas (Ohio State) – His ceiling is tremendous, but he would need some work as a run blocker.
• Rashard Higgins (Colorado State) – “Hollywood” could give the New Orleans Saints a playmaker, and reuniting with Garrett Grayson would be an interesting thought.
• Pharoh Cooper (South Carolina) – He’s a ‘jack-of-all trades’ type of player, and the Gamecocks weren’t afraid to exploit that versatility.  He’d be a fairly electric addition in the third round.
• Mike Thomas (Southern Miss) – I thought about putting Tyler Boyd (Pittsburgh) in here, as I think Thomas could realistically be a Day 3 target. However, the run on receivers is going to put him higher.

Linebackers

• Reggie Ragland, ILB (Alabama) – Although the Saints have their interior linebackers pretty set, Ragland is a first round talent that you’d have to consider if he’s available.
• Myles Jack (UCLA) – Perhaps honesty is not always the best policy. His free fall won’t last past tonight, and the Saints could face a tough decision if he’s still sitting out there when they pick.
• Jaylon Smith (Notre Dame) – How far does Smith fall, and is he worth the risk after claims of potentially missing all of 2016 due to his knee issues? He’d be worth stashing a year for his potential.
• Su’a Cravens (USC) – The hybrid safety/linebacker should being taken today, and is one of the more rising prospects. Cravens would make an immediate impact at the team’s weak side linebacker spot if chosen.
• Deion Jones (LSU) – One mock draft had Jones pegged as a first round pick with his combination of size and speed, could he last until the third round for the New Orleans Saints?

Other spots

• Derrick Henry, RB (Alabama) – You may chuckle, but Henry is big and powerful running back. If they look his way, then a trade partner could exist for some of their existing options.
• Mackensie Alexander, CB (Clemson) – Here’s a classic example of a first round talent that is going to have a lot to prove with whoever selects him. I don’t think the Saints would address the cornerback position until the later rounds, but Alexander could change their mind.
• Xavien Howard, CB (Baylor) – He’d bring strong press coverage to the New Orleans Saints, and his style of play is admirable.
• Vonn Bell, S (Ohio State) – The team will need to get a swing safety out of this draft. Bell could get some strong consideration from teams on Day 2.
• Jason Spriggs, OT (Indiana) – He may be listed as a tackle, but could shift into a guard. Either way, his versatility brings the intrigue to the table.

Who do you hope the New Orleans Saints take tonight? Let us know!