New Orleans Saints aim for a receiver in most recent NFL mock draft

The New Orleans Saints may look at free agency for a wide receiver or they could just opt to take one with the 24th pick in the 2020 NFL Draft.

It’s a known problem. The New Orleans Saints need to get Michael Thomas some help. Keith Kirkwood, Tre’Quan Smith and Ted Ginn Jr. did not get the job done in 2019, allowing for Thomas to have an all-time great year.

Thomas now holds the NFL’s single-season receptions record because of 2019. On top of that, he led the league in receiving yards as Brees’ main threat. Running back Alvin Kamara and tight end Jared Cook were a few of Brees’ top targets behind Thomas.

Without much help on the edge, many are predicting the Saints to secure a wide receiver with their first-round pick. Let’s not fool ourselves though. The Saints will not be getting the draft’s best receiver.

Before 24, multiple receivers could be taken.

But, the most recent mock draft from NFL.com’s Maurice Jones-Drew, a long-time running back in the league, has New Orleans taking Collin Johnson, a senior receiver from Texas. Jones-Drew has five receivers being taken before Johnson including three straight from 20-22.

“I know selecting Johnson here will raise some eyebrows, but think of former Saints WR Marques Colston with this pick. Johnson is more athletic than Colston was, and he will thrive opposite Michael Thomas,” Jones-Drew said of Johnson.

In his last season at Texas, Johnson was rather disappointing. He did show flashes of first-round potential but played in just seven games and wasn’t even close to the same production that had scouts drooling last season.

An aggressive 6-foot-6 receiver, Johnson has the ability to go up and get the ball. Think of the Bengals’ Auden Tate or, as Jones-Drew noted, the Saints’ former receiver Colston. Either way, Johnson has the potential to thrive in the Big Easy.

The Saints need Johnson, but there are players like Tee Higgins that would likely be preferred so it’ll truly be a mystery who the Saints really aim for until we see how the draft pans out. Day 1 is scheduled for April 23 in Las Vegas.