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New Orleans Saints: Analyzing the 2021 NFL Draft by position

By Justin Dunbar

MIAMI, FLORIDA - OCTOBER 05: Caleb Farley #3 of the Virginia Tech Hokies celebrates with teammates against the Miami Hurricanes during the first half at Hard Rock Stadium on October 05, 2019 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
MIAMI, FLORIDA - OCTOBER 05: Caleb Farley #3 of the Virginia Tech Hokies celebrates with teammates against the Miami Hurricanes during the first half at Hard Rock Stadium on October 05, 2019 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images)
(Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images) /

Wide Receiver

Long-Term Need at Position: Extremely High

Wide receiver is a valuable position, and outside of Michael Thomas, the Saints’ options there consist of Tre’Quan Smith, Marquez Callaway, Deonte Harris. That is far from ideal.

First-Round Value

  • Rashod Bateman, Minnesota (Rank: 17)
  • Rondale Moore, Purdue (Rank: 21)
  • Ka’Darius Toney, Florida (Rank: 22)
  • Elijah Moore, Ole Miss (Rank: 32)
  • Terrace Marshall, LSU (Rank: 36)

If the Saints want a receiver in the first round, they’ll have plenty of options.

Bateman is seen as a complete receiver as a nuanced separator and the type of deep threat that would mesh well with Winston- he had 1,219 receiving yards and averaged 20.3 yards/reception as a sophomore.

If he’s not available, New Orleans could look at Marshall as a contested-catch specialist, though those prototypes are risky. Rather, perhaps they’d look more towards one of the slot receivers in this draft, with Rondale Moore and Ka’Darius Toney being the most exciting based on their success after the catch.

Now, neither induced a high average depth of target in college and aren’t seen as “true receivers”, yet they are playmakers that can be best utilized in an innovative offense, which Sean Payton certainly is capable of leading.

Other Options

  • Nico Collins, Michigan (Rank: 55)
  • Tylan Wallace, Oklahoma State (Rank: 58)
  • Jaelon Darden, North Texas (Rank: 69)
  • Simi Fehoko, Stanford (Rank: 82)
  • Cade Johnson Sr., South Dakota State (Rank: 86)
  • Dwayne Eskridge, Western Michigan (Rank: 91)
  • Tamorrion Terry, Florida State (Rank: 93)
  • Marquez Stevenson, Houston (Rank: 119)
  • Anthony Schwartz, Auburn (Rank: 120)
  • Austin Watkins, UAB (Rank: 125)

This is a very deep receiver class!

Collins, Wallace, and Watkins are prototypical outside receivers none for their abilities as deep threats, and there isn’t one reason why Terry, Fehoko, and Eskridge can’t be outside vertical threats as well with their overall athleticism.

The rest, on the other hand, profile best in the slot, but that’s fine! All of them are strong separators how can succeed after the catch, which is exactly what Sean Payton appears to be looking for. Remember, Winston targeted Adam Humphries over 100 times in 2018.

Buyer Beware

  • N/A

Maybe Dyami Brown (Rank; 79) could be over-drafted based on my model’s projection, but even he profiles really well as a deep threat with Winston. The pay-off at receiver is too high, especially in this draft, for the Saints to be worried about the consequences of drafting any particular player.

Overview

I don’t know how the Saints don’t come out of this draft with multiple receivers. Whether it’s speed, slot success, yardage after the catch, or size on the outside, there are so many different skill sets that are in this draft.

Right now, the idea of taking one in the first round, and then targeting the opposite prototype, later on, is intriguing. A combination of R.Moore/Toney and Collins or Bateman and Darden, for instance, would make offense in the Bayou much more exciting moving forward.

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