New Orleans Saints full 7-round mock for the 2021 NFL Draft

Round 2 Pick 60 — LB Jabril Cox

Jabril Cox should get some attention in the second round. The Saints are unlikely to re-sign Alex Anzalone, and they released Kwon Alexander.

While Demario Davis still on the roster and they did add Zach Baun in last year’s draft, just getting depth at the position will be crucial for the team. Considering they started Anzalone over Baun last season, it’s clear the rookie wasn’t ready to take that next step.

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Thrusting him into a starting role may not be smart, and adding a linebacker here may be a better move. As for Cox, he’ll come over from LSU, and he should prove to be a solid weapon alongside Davis.

"“His coverage skills had no problem transferring over, evidenced by his three picks and 83.5 coverage grade from Pro Football Focus (PFF),” Raider Maven’s Darin Alexander Baydoun wrote."

He does go on to mention how Cox isn’t necessarily the best run-stopping linebacker. Given that he’s 6-foot-4 and 230 pounds, it makes sense that he may have a tough time clogging the holes for opposing backs.

A long bright spot on the LSU defense, Cox recorded 6.5 sacks and 58 tackles last season.

He ranks as the 11th-best linebacker prospect, but with four ranked between the 75 and 85 overall and none between 50 and 75, reaching for Cox if the top seven are all taken doesn’t seem like a long shot for New Orleans.

Either way, the team will be taking a linebacker at some point in the draft after losing two in free agency.