Top 5 dream draft picks at No. 29 for the New Orleans Saints
By Randy Gurzi
Saints draft target No. 3: Siaki Ika, Baylor, DT
This offseason hasn't been kind to the Saints defensive line. They lost David Onyemata to the Atlanta Falcons, Shy Tuttle to the Carolina Panthers, and Marcus Davenport to the Minnesota Vikings.
To their credit, they have been able to replace just about any outgoing player due to the depth they created over the years. Even so, that could get tested this season as Khalen Saunders and Nathan Shepherd are their projected defensive tackle starters at this point.
Should they decide to look for an improvement at the position, they might want to kick the tires on Siaki Ika from Baylor. Ika is a mountain of a human being at 6-foot-3 and 335 pounds. He's not going to blow anyone away with his speed but he's a powerful nose tackle that eats up blocks and is nearly impossible to run against. He's also surprisingly nimble, even if he's not explosive.
Become familiar with #Baylor NT Siaki Ika #62.
— Dane Brugler (@dpbrugler) August 9, 2022
Verified 6-4, 354 pounds with nimble feet and natural power. LSU transfer. He looked like Vita Vea on the Ole Miss tape.
Early DT preview for the 2023 NFL Draft: https://t.co/lDrbY5gpPw pic.twitter.com/AZ71M03qEo
Ika, who began his career at LSU, is also known for having great recognition. He can read and diagnose plays in a hurry which helps him clog up the right lanes to slow down the opposing rushing attack.
There will be those who don't think he can play all three downs but the fact is, a player such as Ika can ensure those who do excel in pass-rushing situations get on the field. That can also be very valuable to a defense.