NFL Draft 2024: Best players available Saints should target on Day 2

The New Orleans Saints got the party started on Thursday, selecting offensive tackle Taliese Fuaga with the 14th-overall in the 2024 NFL Draft. Fuaga addresses New Orleans’ most pressing need but the team still has a lot of work to do. Fortunately, the draft is just getting started.

In this year’s NFL Draft, there is tons of talent at all positions in rounds. On day two there are multiple intriguing prospects that the Saints should target with the 45th pick. Here are four players that the Saints should look into taking on day two.

Braden Fiske

Braden Fiske burst onto many teams' draft boards after a stellar performance at the NFL Combine. Fiske was first among all defensive tackles in the 40-yard dash, the vertical jump, the broad jump, and the 20 yard shuttle. The Saints love their athletic defensive lineman and Fiske fits that perfectly. Pairing him with Bryan Bresee could create a young, explosive duo at the interior. 

Fiske is a little bit smaller than the Saints prototypical defensive tackle. That shouldn’t be a problem, as he makes up for it with his explosiveness. Fiske has great speed and thrives when asked to do a stunt. Last year at college, Fiske totaled six sacks, which is great from a defensive tackle. Fiske is likely a day two pick that the Saints should keep a close eye on.

Kiran Amagedjie

Kiran Amagedjie is a player who is flying under the radar for a lot of fans. Amagedjie didn’t get a lot of exposure to the media this past year as he was playing at Yale. Before he suffered a season-ending quad injury, Amagedjie was playing outstandingly. He has an ideal size for an offensive tackle standing at 6’5, 326 pounds. When on the field Amagedjie has produced; he hasn’t allowed a sack in the past two years at Yale.

Amagedjie is super athletic and shows bright flashes while on tape. He is a great pass blocker and has a nasty streak in the run game. Amagedjie brings versatility with his game as well. He has experience playing at guard. His natural position is tackle but if the Saints desire they could move him to tackle. Amagedjie is someone who would be available on day two that the Saints should put thought into selecting.

Keon Coleman

Keon Coleman would help fill in the X receiver position. Coleman is a tall receiver, 6’3, who thrives in jump ball situations. Before transferring to Florida State, Coleman played both college football and basketball for Michigan State. He is extremely athletic and uses that to win against smaller defenders. 

Coleman’s top-end speed was put in question after running the slowest 40 time by a receiver at this year’s combine. He doesn’t have the top-end speed that would ideally be desired but he plays plenty fast. Coleman recorded the fastest speed in the gauntlet drill at the combine. Keon Coleman is a player who would contribute to the Saints offense right away. He still needs some development, but he has the potential to be a franchise receiver with Chris Olave and Rashid Shaheed.

TJ Tampa

If the Saints do select a player such as TJ Tampa, the cornerback from Iowa State, it doesn’t mean that Marshon Lattimore is getting traded. If a player as good as Tampa is on the board, it would make sense to invest in it as there are question marks surrounding the future of the cornerback position. 

Tampa contains an elite frame for a pro cornerback being 6 '2, 200 pounds. He is a very instinctual player who has a knack for making plays, he has the potential to be a ball hawk in the NFL. Along with this, Tampa brings a physicality to the cornerback position that coaches love. He can take unnecessary risks at times trying to go for the ball which can result in big plays. That will be able to be worked on and is worth the risk if he makes up for it with a takeaway. Although cornerback could be an unorthodox pick in the second round, Tampa is someone the Saints should think about investing in.

READ MORE