It’s important to remember that the NFL draft runs longer than just one round. That’s been big for the New Orleans Saints, who have done much better in rounds two and three than in the first round in recent years. Missing on high draft picks adds pressure to those that followed to compensate, and so far they’ve been up to the task.
So even though they’ll be on the clock at No. 29 overall in April, there are other picks at play. Let’s round up the latest mock draft projections to get an idea of who the Saints could be coming away with in the first two or three rounds this year:
Luke Easterling, Draft Wire
The picks: Florida OL O’Cyrus Torrence (Round 1), Michigan DL Mazi Smith (Round 2), Tennessee QB Hendon Hooker (Round 3)
Doug Farrar, Touchdown Wire
The pick: Clemson LB Trenton Simpson (Round 1), Tennessee QB Hendon Hooker (Round 2)
Patrick Conn, College Sports Wire
The pick: Kentucky QB Will Levis (Round 1), LSU WR Kayshon Boutte (Round 2)
Chad Reuter, NFL.com
The picks: USC DE Tuli Tuipulotu (Round 1), Boston College WR Zay Flowers (Round 2), Tulane RB Tyjae Spears (Round 3)
Ryan Wilson, CBS Sports
The pick: South Carolina CB Cam Smith (Round 1), Tennessee QB Hendon Hooker (Round 2)
