Saints might be pulling off a bold NFL Draft smokescreen no one expects

The New Orleans Saints have conducted 10 top-30 visits that have been reported. Big names like Mansoor Delane, Carnell Tate and Jordyn Tyson are a part of that list. The Saints’ history with top-30 visits, however, says you shouldn’t count on the Saints going in that direction.

It’s important to remember that top-30 visits is an extremely misleading term. There’s an implication of this being the 30 best players on a team’s board. Negative. The visits are a priority but not an indication of a team’s draft board. 

Need further proof? The Saints, like every other team, holds top-30 visits every year. The Saints haven’t spent a first round pick on any prospect they’ve brought in for a top-30 visit in the last 11 drafts. It’s a strange trend, and it’s hard to draw a direct correlation. It’s something that’s impossible to ignore. Disclaimer: all top-30 visits don’t get reported, so there’s room for the numbers to be off. 

Saints could be hiding their true intentions

Everything about the top-30 visit screams wide receiver early. Teams know the Saints need it. More than half of the visits are with receivers. The best lies are veiled in truths. If the visits are one big smokescreen, the Saints may be geniuses. 

Honestly, this feels a little too much to be a smokescreen, but let’s operate like that was the case. It's more fun that way. The next most likely targets in the first round would be edge rusher or Caleb Downs. Interestingly enough, a top-30 visit with Downs or any of the top three edge rusher has yet to be announced.

The players visiting could just be a backup plan. The heavy emphasis on a position is true interest, but it just as easily could be interest for later in the draft. 

The only problem with this smokescreen is teams know the Saints need an edge rusher. Bringing in all the top wide receiver and none of the top edge rushers isn't going to change that. It isn't going to make teams think the Saints aren't interested in Caleb Downs. Teams are fully aware the Saints are a team you may have to jump ahead of to get one of the top defensive players.

It's anyone's guess what the Saints will do, but if this is truly a smokescreen, they're playing the long game.