Recent mock draft projects Saints landing one of the best 2024 prospects

The New Orleans Saints are coming off an underwhelming season, yet they still went 9-8 and were a game away from winning the NFC South. In order to get over the hump and get back into the playoffs, the Saints need to be productive throughout the offseason. With the team facing yet another challenging cap space battle, the 2024 NFL Draft will be especially important for New Orleans.

The Saints currently have the 14th-overall pick in the first round. That’s a spot where teams can still select elite talent. With quarterbacks and offensive linemen typically flying off the board early, New Orleans should have its pick of some elite prospects.

Draft analyst Matt Miller, in his most recent mock draft for ESPN, is predicting that the Saints will land one of the best prospects in the entire class. With the 14th pick, Miller projects New Orleans drafting Georgia tight end Brock Bowers.

Saints draft Brock Bowers in recent 2024 mock draft

While tight end isn’t a top need for New Orleans, Bowers is a special kind of player that’s hard to pass up. Additionally, as Miller notes, the Saints will miss out on the top quarterbacks and receivers, as well as the best offensive linemen, with three going in the top 10. That results in the team picking the best prospect available at 14: Brock Bowers.

There’s an argument that Bowers is one of the three best prospects in this class. Entering the last college season, Caleb Williams, Marvin Harrison Jr., and Bowers were all considered generational can’t-miss-prospects for the upcoming drafts. An ankle injury prevented Bowers from having the kind of finale season that he would’ve hoped to have, but his talent is still undeniable.

At 6-foot-4, 240 pounds, Bowers has the perfect blend of size and athleticism to make him the complete tight end. He’s a mismatch in the passing game, and that’s definitely his best attribute, but he’s a good blocker as well. In 40 games at Georgia, he caught 175 passes for 2,538 yards and 26 touchdowns. He also carried the ball 19 times for 193 yards and five touchdowns.

With the uncertainty of Michael Thomas and Rashid Shaheed, the Saints must make sure they have another reliable pass catcher besides Chris Olave. There’s a widespread belief that Brock Bowers could be the NFL’s next elite tight end; it would be great if that happened in New Orleans.

READ MORE