New Orleans Saints linked to Justyn Ross in recent mock draft

There’s no excuse for the New Orleans Saints not to target a wide receiver in the early rounds of the 2022 NFL Draft. Even if they manage to sign a wide receiver in free agency, this season has proven that the team has zero viable options at the position.

That’s why it’s not a surprise to see the Saints linked to different wide receivers in mock drafts. The latest is Clemson’s Justyn Ross, who Pro Football Network has NOLA spending the No. 21 pick on. Here’s what PFN had to say about why they had Ross landing in the Big Easy:

"Justyn Ross has proven in 2021 that his back is healthy — but that’s about all he has proven. With terrible quarterback play at Clemson this season, Davis has yet to show that his fabulous 2019 season wasn’t just an anomaly. With that being said, his 2019 campaign was among the greatest receiving seasons we’ve seen in some time. That sample is a bit far away for him to be a consensus first-round pick, but you can bet whichever team does select Ross will hope that is the player they’re receiving. And if they do, it’s a home run."

This season has been a strange one for Clemson. The typical top-ranked Tigers have struggled in 2021 and Ross hasn’t been able to put up the same kind of numbers he was at the beginning of his collegiate career.

New Orleans Saints select Justyn Ross in mock draft

In 2018, Ross racked up 46 receptions for 1,000 yards and nine touchdowns. That season saw him put up career numbers but he was still very good in 2019 with 66 receptions for 865 yards and eight touchdowns. He didn’t play in 2020 but has shown that he’s healthy this year, as PFN noted in the blurb above.

So far in 2021, Ross has 44 receptions for 484 yards and three touchdowns. I’m not sure that Ross is worth spending a first-round pick on but I certainly wouldn’t be upset at the Saints adding him at some point in the 2022 NFL Draft. They’ll be in a situation where they’ll need to add multiple receivers and if Ross was one of them and they got the 2018/2019 version of him, this offense could be dangerous moving forward.

How would you feel about this pick, Saints fans?