New Orleans Saints: Cornerback will be the No. 1 need entering 2020

The New Orleans Saints may need to shed additional cornerback play to free up cap space for the NFL’s 2020 free agency period.

Patrick Robinson is set to make over $6 million while Janoris Jenkins, the New Orleans Saints late-season addition, is set for an eight-figure payday. Both need to have their contracts reconstructed or potentially fear being cut.

That said, the 2020 NFL Draft will be a time for the Saints to look back on their free agency period and right their wrongs.

While offensive line and wide receiver may be just as concerning flaws on the roster, the team has superstar receiver Michael Thomas and they have a consistent offensive line even without Andrus Peat.

Those two units will be at least average without any additional help. However, cornerback, if those two are cut, could have some issues as second-string cornerback Eli Apple is already potentially heading elsewhere as he’ll become a free agent in 2020.

Apple, Robinson and Jenkins all have their future with the team in flux.

That type of uncertainty makes the need for a steady cornerback easily the greatest one for the New Orleans Saints. On top of that, wide receiver is an ultra-deep position in this upcoming draft so securing one in the first round is far from necessary.

Jeff Okudah is easily the No. 1 cornerback in the 2020 NFL Draft.

After him, most analysts have LSU freshman Kristian Fulton as the No. 2 cornerback in the draft. However, they don’t have him being selected until the late teens, potentially opening up a possibility that he’s not taken until the Saints pick at No. 24.

At the end of the day, the Saints have numerous avenues for both improving their cap situation and their roster. Come draft day, we should have a good glimpse of what they’re looking for, but things are from guaranteed to play out the way many predict.