SmashMouth

The 2018 NFL draft is less than a month away, so by now, the New Orleans Saints should be close to being done with their player evaluations.
The team has addressed some of its needs thus far this offseason. The Saints re-signed defensive ends Alex Okafor and George Johnson. They brought back tight end Benjamin Watson, cornerback Patrick Robinson and versatile offensive lineman Jermon Bushrod. They also plugged defensive holes by signing linebacker Demario Davis and safety Kurt Coleman.
But, adding veteran players doesn’t necessarily change the long-term needs at some positions, and the goal of the draft should be to build the team for the future. Most draft classes won’t have the same Year 1 impact as the Saints' group did in 2017.
With eight picks, the Saints should have chances to find talented players, but with the first pick at 27th and without a second-round pick, the Saints will watch several of the top players come off the board before they can pick.
Here’s my third mock draft of 2018:



Round 1 (No. 27): DT Da'Ron Payne, Alabama
I was tempted to go back to my selection in 1.0 of South Carolina tight end Hayden Hurst, but I’m instead sticking with my 2.0 selection of Payne. The addition of Watson makes it less likely the Saints reach for a tight end, though it’s certainly not out of the question.
Payne, though, seems to be a fit for a Saints defense that’s looking to bulk up in the middle after giving up 4.4 yards per carry in 2017. After seeing the Saints flirt with signing Ndamukong Suh and Muhammad Wilkerson, it seems the team considers defensive tackle a need.
CBS Sports ranks the 6-foot-2, 311-pound Payne as the No. 23 overall prospect and No. 4 defensive tackle, so there’s a chance he’ll fall to the Saints. It won’t excite the fan base, but this pick would help the defense.

Round 3 (91): WR Dante Pettis, Washington
This pick is staying the same from 2.0, too, because I think Pettis would be a great fit for the Saints on offense and special teams.
Pettis scored nine punt return touchdowns the past four years, including four in 2017, and for a Saints team that has lacked consistency in the return game, he could play a role on special teams immediately.
The Saints have yet to add a receiver in free agency, and the 6-foot Pettis could bring quickness, route-running and hands to the offense. His best statistical year was 2016 with 53 catches for 822 yards and 15 touchdowns. He followed that with 63 catches for 761 yards and seven touchdowns in 2017.

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