3 small-school prospects that should be on the Saints’ radar

The New Orleans Saints are currently set to enter the 2024 NFL Draft with nine total picks. The Saints have a pick in the first and second rounds, four in the fifth round, two in the sixth, and one in the seventh. Barring any trades, New Orleans will select seven of it’s rookies on day three of the draft.

That may not seem encouraging, since the expectation is that the best players are selected early in the draft, but there are plenty of late-round gems selected every year. This draft will definitely be no different. It’ll be up to the Saints to identify who those gems are.

Ryan Fowler, in a recent piece for Bleacher Report, tried identifying some potential gems, naming several small-school prospects who could be big steals on the final two days of the draft. Of the prospects named, three are players that New Orleans should really have its eyes on: Marshawn Kneeland, Khristian Boyd, and Mohamed Kamara.

Late-round prospects that can help Saints

Marshawn Kneeland is an edge defender out of Western Michigan. In four collegiate seasons, Kneeland recorded 12.5 sacks and 28 tackles for a loss. He has really caught the attention of scouts during the pre-draft process, with impressive showings at the Senior Bowl and the combine. At 6-foot-3, 267 pounds, Kneeland ran a 4.75 second 40-yard dash. Considering New Orleans’s need to improve the defensive line, Kneeland could be an option for the Saints.

The same goes for Khristian Boyd, an interior defensive tackle from Northern Iowa. Boyd may be from a small school, but he isn’t flying under the radar. Fowler made that clear, explaining that Boyd has pre-draft visits with nearly half of the NFL. The Saints need depth at the defensive tackle position and the athletic Boyd could provide that.

Staying with the defensive line, Mohamed Kamara out of Colorado State is another edge defender to watch. Kamara has already been named as a prospect that could have an immediate impact on the Saints, because of his pass-rushing ability. Considering that New Orleans desperately needs to improve its pass rush, fans shouldn’t be surprised if Mohamed Kamara is drafted by the team.

READ MORE