New Orleans Saints: 5 receivers to target in the 2020 NFL Draft

Brandon Aiyuk

Aiyuk is a player that has forced his way into the conversation of the top 10 college receivers this season after exploding as Arizona State’s number one option. Last season, he had to play sidekick to N’Keal Harry, but with the spotlight on him, he proved to be arguably better than Harry was with the Sundevils.

His numbers jumped from 33 receptions for 474 yards to 65 receptions for 1,192 yards.

Aiyuk also boosted his touchdown numbers from only three to eight this previous season. The reason for this immense increase in production could be attributed to Aiyuk’s insane ability to move the ball downfield once it’s in his hands.

Unlike Harry, who was a pure speedster and got a majority of his yards for homerun shots, Aiyuk amassed most of his yards after the catch. His combination of his awareness of defenders and his arsenal of open-field moves made him a highlight machine this previous season.

In fact, some have even compared his playstyle to that of Sammy Watkins, the dominant Clemson wideout who went number four overall in the 2014 draft.

In order for Aiyuk to be successful in the NFL, he would need to benefit from a great offensive mind who has schemes to get at least one man open every play. Who better to groom him and create those schemes than Sean Peyton?

Peyton’s offensive playcalling and the attention that Thomas commands would make Aiyuk one of the most threatening second receiving options in the league.

Because of the growing hype around Aiyuk, it is possible that the Saints would have to draft him with their first-round pick.

His draft stock has grown exponentially this season and his combine numbers could help him climb the ladder even more. Currently, he’s a consensus late first-round or second-round pick. It will come down to how bad the team wants him in gold and black.