SmashMouth

The New Orleans Saints enter the final two weeks before the NFL Draft kicks off.
Armed with eight picks, the Saints are primed to add talent to the roster and can go a variety of directions given the success of the past two drafts and additions through free agency.
That said, it is essential for readers to remember that mock drafts should never be viewed as an exercise in accuracy.
Saints general manager Mickey Loomis revealed during his April 2017 predraft press conference that he prefers to set the team’s draft board in “the 100 to 130 range” and the number of players depends on the year.
Trade scenarios, which are not typically considered with mock drafts, during the NFL's annual three-day selection process will also dramatically alter the landscape as teams jockey for position by moving up or down the draft.
Given the Saints' wide range of choices –– and it can’t be stressed enough –– readers should use a mock draft for educational purposes and learn about numerous draft prospects, all of whom could make sense for the Saints.
Click here to read mock draft version 1.0, and here for version 2.0 and here for version 3.0.
Below is the fourth look at eight potential picks, some repeating from previous versions, for the Saints.



Round 1 (No. 27): DE Sam Hubbard, Ohio State
With the likes of Michael Thomas, Vonn Bell, Kurt Coleman and Ted Ginn Jr. on the roster, there is no denying the Ohio State connection and success with the Saints.
So, why not dip back in the well here?
The 6-foot-5, 265-pound Hubbard totaled 116 tackles (64 solo), including 29.5 tackles for a loss, 17 sacks, three passes defensed and three forced fumbles.
Hubbard graduated from college with a degree in finance and was a first-team Academic All-American selection in 2016.
The Saints would also address a position categorized as a “must” to bolster the pass rush.

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