The latest report from Essentially Sports' Tony Pauline has the Saints considering passing on a receiver at 8 for all the wrong reasons. Pauline thinks Chris Olave's pending extension could keep the Saints from picking a receiver at 8. It's such a head scratching explanation that it has to be a smokescreen.
Pauline wrote the Saints "did not intend to spend big or position too many assets at the receiver spot, considering the money they would have to spend to keep their 2022 first-round pick. They will likely wait until Day 2 before drafting a receiver."
The offseason has been all about adding weapons for Shough, and we're supposed to believe they won't do it at wide receiver in the first round because they already have a big time talent there? That didn't stop them from signing Travis Etienne and saying they want a two-headed monster at running back.
Saints passing on wide receiver in Round 1 because of Chris Olave just isn't modern football
If the Saints choose to take Caleb Downs or Mansoor Delane because they feel like they're better prospects or could have a larger impact, that makes perfect sense. Choosing to not pick a receiver because you already have Olave is a flawed theory for multiple reasons.
The Saints operated with at least three receivers on the field for most of last season. There's room for both Olave and Jordyn Tyson or Carnell Tate to play together. Teams aren't just trying to get a dynamic receiver. These days teams are looking for dynamic duos, especially ones who could take over on any given day.
You look at the Bengals, Rams, Eagles and Lions lately, and you'll see the benefit of multiple talented receivers. The Vikings had the best receiver in football and drafted a receiver in the first round. Granted, there's a difference between drafting one at 23 than 8, but there's also a difference between Olave and Justin Jefferson. If you can get two top flight potential WR1 kind of players, you do it. Tyler Shough will thank you for it.
Financially, the Saints would have the rookie under control for four to six seasons, including a fifth-year option and possible franchise tag after that. By the end of the initial four years of the rookie deal, Olave's extension could be up. The timeline sets up more for a passing of the torch than two receivers being highly paid at the same time.
When you look at the different angles of the decision making, it's flawed in multiple ways. So flawed that it feels like a smokescreen. Everyone knows the Saints need to add to their wide receiver room. While you can get an extremely talented receiver in the second round, what sense does it make taking it off the table in Round 1?
It feels like Saints attempting to put rumors out in hopes of a receiver falling to them at 8. We see these type of stories come out every year. This report has "we don't want this guy, so there's no need to jump in front of us for him" written all over it.
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