Top 5 players the New Orleans Saints should completely avoid in 2023 NFL Draft

Saints prospect to avoid No. 3: Darnell Washington, TE, Georgia

Tight end is a need for the Saints but it's not exactly a major need. Sure, if someone such as Dalton Kincaid or Michael Mayer happened to be on the board at No. 29 and they were the best available talent, New Orleans would be wise to pull the trigger. But at the same time, if they were to walk away without adding a tight end until the mid-to-late rounds, that could work as well since this class is loaded.

Those are the reasons it wouldn't make sense for them to reach for Darnell Washington from Georgia.

Now don't take that the wrong way. Washington is a very talented player with a ton of upside. He's also a mammoth of a man at 6-foot-7 and 264 pounds and can still run in the 4.6 range.

The issue with Washington is that he's a work in progress. In fact, Lance Zierlein of NFL.com says his technique is "sloppy" and he needs to improve both his hand and footwork.

"Despite sloppy overall technique, Washington can be effective at moving defenders when he’s centered on his block. He must improve his footwork and hand usage, as NFL defenders will slip away from his clutches more easily if he’s unsound"

- Zierlein, NFL.com

With so many tight ends that can contribute early, Washington wouldn't be the best selection for the Saints. Especially since it would likely cost them their top pick.