Saints 7-Round Mock Draft: Two first-round trades lead to building the trenches
By Ryan Heckman
This next pick won't have to travel far. Defensive lineman Mekhi Wingo goes from LSU straight to the Saints' building. And, if there's ever a doubt, you are typically just fine selecting a defender from the Tigers defense.
With their fourth pick out of five, the Saints build the trenches. It's a beautiful sight to see. Wingo is only 6-foot-1, 295 pounds, but he definitely plays bigger. He's a strong, dense frame that can handle one-on-one blocks perfectly fine. He has a high ceiling as an interior pass rusher and also plays the run well. If he can continue improving technique to make up for lack of size, Wingo will have a lengthy career in the NFL.
Tight end has been a weird position for the Saints for quite some time. Whether it's been Juwan Johnson, Taysom Hill, Foster Moreau or even an aged Jimmy Graham, the Saints don't have any consistency here.
In the fifth round, they take their chance on Penn State tight end Theo Johnson. The 6-foot-6 tight end offers the Saints a phenomenal run blocker, for starters. However, he has great hands and a knack for picking up yards after the catch. His route running won't blow you away, but if you get him the ball, he'll pick up yardage after the fact.