Rating: (0 votes - average)

Michael Thomas established himself as one of the best receivers in the NFL, and Ted Ginn Jr. had one of the best years of his career. But, for most of the 2018 season, it seemed the New Orleans Saints needed another receiver who could help the offense.
Willie Snead’s rough season started with a three-game suspension, and he never made the same impact he had in 2016 and 2017. Brandon Coleman offered great run blocking, but produced minimally in the passing game. Without much help beyond Thomas and Ginn, the Saints converted just 37.6 percent of third downs, ranking 19th in the NFL.
Heading into the offseason, the Saints knew they had to address the wide receiver position, and last week, they pried restricted free agent Cameron Meredith away from the Bears. As long as he recovers well from last year’s knee injury, he should be a nice complementary piece to the offense.
However, with Snead still technically a free agent because he hasn’t signed his restricted tender and Coleman still on the market, the Saints could look to add another receiver in this year’s draft.
With less than two weeks remaining before the draft, we’ll analyze the Saints’ needs at each position. The 10-part series continues with wide receivers.



Saints depth chart
Michael Thomas
Ted Ginn Jr.
Cameron Meredith
Tommylee Lewis
Austin Carr
Josh Huff
Paul Turner
Travin Dural
Dan Arnold
Willie Snead (unsigned restricted tender)

Potential Day 1 (first round) selections
Calvin Ridley, Alabama
Courtland Sutton, SMU
D.J. Moore, Maryland
Christian Kirk, Texas A&M

Potential Day 2 (rounds 2-3) selections
D.J. Chark, LSU
James Washington, Oklahoma State
Anthony Miller, Memphis
Marcell Ateman, Oklahoma State
Michael Gallup, Colorado State
Deon Cain, Clemson
Equanimeous St. Brown, Notre Dame
Auden Tate, Florida State
DaeSean Hamilton, Penn State
Dante Pettis, Washington
Jordan Lasley, UCLA

Potential Day 3 (rounds 4-7) selections
Deontay Burnett, USC
Tre’Quan Smith, Central Florida
Keke Coutee, Texas Tech
Dylan Cantrell, Texas Tech
Cedrick Wilson, Boise State
Richie James, Middle Tennessee State
Allen Lazard, Iowa
Trey Quinn, SMU
J’Mon Moore, Missouri
Daurice Fountain, Northern Iowa
Javon Wims, Georgia
Cam Phillips, Virginia Tech
Darren Carrington II, Utah
Russell Gage, LSU
Jaleel Scott, New Mexico State
Jester Weah, Pittsburgh
Quadree Henderson, Pittsburgh
Simmie Cobbs Jr., Indiana
Byron Pringle, Kansas State
Justin Watson, Penn
Braxton Berrios, Clemson
Marquez Valdes-Scantling, South Florida
Vyncint Smith, Limestone

Read More on NOLA

K Major

Dante Pettis, Washington

I really like his skill set ... specifically in the special teams dept. Tommy Lee isn't getting it done. I'd like Brees and that offense to kick start from beyond our own 25 yard line.

ChrisXVI

Like that idea a lot. We have two guys now in Michael Thomas and Cameron Meredith who are X receivers who can move inside as big slot receivers too. Ted Ginn is our only Z receiver so we need another option there who could take his place in the future.

Rugby Saint II

I like the way you think!