New Orleans Saints 2021 Prospect Analysis: Eli Stove

The New Orleans Saints might be in the market for a Deonte Harris 2.0. With Harris taking on an expanded role in the offense last year, the team could be priming the waters to replace Harris on the special team’s roster to fulfill a great need in the receiving corps.

Within the upcoming season, Harris will take on the role of the No. 3 and maybe even No. 2 receiver on the Saints. After the departure of Emmanuel Sanders, the rest of the receiving corps moved up a spot including the special teams’ specialist.

With an increased use on offense, Sean Payton and his coordinators might find it beneficial to the team to move him away from the special team’s position altogether. That will leave a hole as the primary punt and kick returner.

We always look at the big-name, early prospects the Saints could choose, but Eli Stove could be the sneaky, late-round pick the team needs to fill multiple gaps.

Eli Stove, a wide receiver out of the University of Auburn, has scary similar talents to Deonte Harris. Remember, Harris went to the Pro Bowl his rookie season because of his role as the primary return specialist.

Stove didn’t become Auburn’s primary returner until his fifth year in 2020. During last season, though, Stove averaged 31 kickoff return yards on three returns and 7.5 punt return yards on four returns in nine games.

Eli Stove also has talents at the receiver position. In just nine games in 2020, Stove reeled in 44 receptions for 359 yards and three touchdowns. Stove also rushed seven times for 51 yards out of the backfield in the same season.

The Auburn product has a Ty Montgomery and Deonte Harris mix about him. He is versatile playing wide receiver, running back, and special teams. We all know how Sean Payton loves players who can fill multiple roles.

Stove isn’t projected to go until very late being just the No. 329 overall and No. 50 receiver prospect on CBS’s Draft Prospect rankings.