SmashMouth

By actually drafting well the past two years, the New Orleans Saints walk into this year’s version of the NFL Draft with a vastly different set of circumstances.
There aren’t as many holes to fill after a stellar 2017 campaign. The Saints also are at the mercy of the draft thanks to their success with the No. 27 overall pick in the first round and no second round pick (just think of Alvin Kamara as that pick since that was a piece to acquire the tailback).
The Saints at least possess eight selections for this year’s draft. New Orleans has already added numerous pieces in free agency. So we can narrow down the scope on some positions.



Round 1 (No. 27): CB Josh Jackson, Iowa
I’ve been as sporadic as I can remember in my first-round picks this mock draft season. Typically I stay true to a prospect, for better or worse: 2014 – Marquise Lee, 2015 -- Bud Dupree, 2016 – Sheldon Rankins, 2017 – Derek Barnett.
The former Hawkeyes cornerback will be my third player I’ve tabbed for the Saints in four mocks.
What should that tell you? Be prepared for the Saints to venture into any direction at No. 27 overall.
New Orleans landed Patrick Robinson on a four-year deal at the onset of free agency. The Saints also have young starters like Marshon Lattimore and Ken Crawley on the roster. You can’t have enough good cornerbacks, though.
The 6-foot-1, 192-pound corner would bring production with him to the Saints. Jackson tallied 27 pass defenses and eight interceptions in 2017. He took two interceptions against Wisconsin back for touchdowns.
NFLDraftScout.com compared Jackson to Rod Woodson. NFL.com likened Jackson to Josh Norman. Those are might lofty comparisons for a one-year starter.
You know who else was only a one-year starter in college? Lattimore.

Round 3 (91): EDGE Arden Key, LSU
Really? Key in the third round? It’s more feasible than you might imagine.
Good for the Saints. Not so good for Key, who was once thought of as a sure-fire first-rounder.
Key claimed the Saints were “crazy interested” in him following his up-and-down performance at LSU Pro Day. New Orleans wouldn’t be interested in him at No. 27 overall. In the third round? Key would be worth the risk.
The former LSU pass rusher said he showed off the “sophomore Arden Key” last week in Baton Rouge. Remember Key piled up 12 sacks in 2016. The talent is in there somewhere
Key only tallied four sacks in his marred junior season. Add that to his mysterious leave of absence, injury issues and weight fluctuation and it’s certainly not out the question for Key to fall to the Saints at No. 91.
Key would be well worth the risk on Day 2 for New Orleans.

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