Saints add a wide receiver to their offense in first round of mock draft

It was frustrating watching the New Orleans Saints wait until the seventh round of the 2021 NFL Draft to take a wide receiver but it’s in the past. All Saints fans can hope for now is that Tre’Quan Smith, Marquez Callaway, or Kawaan Baker (that seventh-round receiver the Saints drafted) step into that WR2 role this year.

If none of those guys step up, the Saints can’t make any more excuses — They have to draft a receiver in the first round of the 2022 NFL Draft.

Brent Sobleski of Bleacher Report has them going that route in his recent mock draft, selecting Drake London of USC with the No. 20 overall pick. I was a bit surprised to see the Saints picking so late in the first round, as their team has a new quarterback in 2021 but hey — I’ll take it.

Anyway, let’s get into the London pick. Here’s what Sobleski had to say about this decision:

"USC’s Drake London is the personification of potential. The 6’5″, 210-pound wide receiver hasn’t quite put everything together with 72 receptions for 1,069 yards and eight touchdowns through two seasons. The former two-sport athlete has quick feet for a receiver of his size yet more than enough power to play through physical defensive backs."

While London’s stats aren’t the most impressive, he still has another year to flourish for the Trojans. To this point, he’s yet to go for more than 600 yards in a single season and has amassed eight touchdowns during two years for USC. The numbers aren’t there but that isn’t to say he can’t come out of the gates hot in 2021.

The Saints select Drake London in Bleacher Report’s mock draft.

If London doesn’t step it up this year, then this pick might puzzle some people if the Saints went in this direction. Drafting a guy who has yet to amass 600 yards in the first round would shock a lot of people but if London has the season he’s capable of, then this will be a pick that Who Dat Nation can get behind.

The Saints have Michael Thomas as their WR1 for the time being but they don’t have much depth behind him. If they want their offense to continue to thrive with a new quarterback, it’s important to add receivers who can make an impact in a game.

Make sure to keep an eye on Drake London during the college football season, Saints fans, as he could end up being a future receiver on this team.