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Saints projected to land versatile offensive lineman in recent mock draft

While the focus is currently on free agency, the New Orleans Saints will also do a lot of their team building in the 2024 NFL Draft.

By Jaleel Grandberry

NFL Combine
NFL Combine / Kevin Sabitus/GettyImages
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The New Orleans Saints, along with the rest of the NFL, are currently going after veteran free agents to address the various needs the team has. So far, New Orleans has signed former Kansas City Chiefs linebacker Willie Gay, and is working to land edge defender Chase Young. It’s safe to assume the Saints will get a couple of more deals done as well.

Eventually, though, the veterans will be signed and the NFL world will turn its focus back to the 2024 NFL Draft. With the draft class being loaded with talented prospects, whatever holes the Saints have after free agency, they’ll be able to address in the draft.

ESPN’s Field Yates recently fast forwarded ahead to that process, carrying out a mock draft based on some of the initial free agency developments. While New Orleans only signed one free agent so far, they have lost some players as well. Yates focused on a departing player to determine the Saints’ draft strategy.

Highlighting how offensive lineman Andrus Peat is now a free agent, Yates projects that New Orleans will draft Washington offensive lineman Troy Fautanu.

Saints select Troy Fautanu in recent mock draft

Many draft analysts have predicted that New Orleans will take a tackle with the 14th-overall pick. In an extremely talented tackle class, it would make sense for the Saints to address this need. Troy Fautanu is one of the talented tackles in the draft class but he has something else working for him; he has experience at both guard and tackle. They would make him the perfect replacement for Andrus Peat, who also played guard and tackle for the Saints.

Fautanu is entering the draft after five seasons at Washington. At 23 years old, he’s developed, experienced, and ready to be a day-one starter in the NFL. He showcased that with an impressive showing at the NFL Combine. Measuring 6-foot-4, 317 pounds, Fautanu ran a 5.01 40-yard dash with a 1.71 10-yard split. If the Saints do select him, they’ll be getting a versatile lineman that excels as a pass protector and a run blocker.

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