3 players the New Orleans Saints may regret passing on

Potential Saints prospect they may regret passing on: Baron Browning

I’m trying to keep the players the Saints may regret passing on to a list of positions they actually needed, which is why we saw a cornerback and receiver. Now, we’re going to focus on linebackers, a position they desperately needed to strengthen.

The Saints did get an Ohio State linebacker, but I think Baron Browning has a chance to be the better of the two. Browning was ranked as the 7th-best prospect by CBS Sports while Saints second-round pick Pete Werner came in at No. 10.

Werner played eight games with the Buckeyes his senior season. In those appearances, he totaled 54 tackles. He had 2.5 tackles for a loss and one sack. Browning’s numbers weren’t as impressive as his final season hurt his draft stock after a terrific junior year.

The Saints may have preferred Werner as he’s more a traditional inside linebacker and does well in coverage as opposed to Demario Davis who plays more as an outside linebacker. As for Browning, he went to Denver, taken with a pick dealt to the Broncos by New Orleans.

Browning, at 6-foot-3, 240 pounds, is a fluid, hard-hitting linebacker. He’s quick and athletic and should find a good home in Denver. Hopefully, Werner ends up better, but despite being drafted after his teammate, most analysts had Browning as the better long-term prospect.

Now, I think the Saints had a great draft. They filled their needs. While they did have a few reaches, nothing was too crazy, and they made good trades to get solid prospects. But, missing on these three may sting in five years.