One of the clearest New Orleans Saints draft trends is their tendency to build through the trenches. Since Jeff Ireland was hired to overhaul their college scouting staff in 2015, they’ve invested 7 of their 10 picks in the first round on offensive or defensive linemen (as well as their top choice in 2018, second-round pick Erik McCoy).
That’s a trend that may continue in the 2023 draft. ESPN’s Jordan Reid cites some sources around the league that see TCU guard Steve Avila getting into the first round with the Saints (at No. 29) or the Dallas Cowboys (at No. 26): “With Avila, the lack of consistent options on the interior and a strong showing at the Senior Bowl helped boost his stock. I’ve heard that Dallas and New Orleans are two teams to keep an eye on with Avila.”
