The history between the New Orleans Saints and the Ohio State Buckeyes is no secret, so as the 2024 mock draft season starts up it’s no surprise to see the two connected yet again. Touchdown Wire’s Doug Farrar just released a 2024 mock draft that had the Saints dipping back into the scarlet and silver pool with defensive end JT Tuimoloau at 20th overall.
You may be confused as to why the defensive line would be a top need yet again after the Saints worked so hard to address it in the 2023 draft, but an aging Cameron Jordan is always a retirement possibility, and he’s not under contract beyond 2023 (though he and the team are working on an extension). Even if Jordan continues playing, and all signs are that he will, both Jordan and Carl Granderson are on track to be free agents after the season. Contract extensions could absolutely address that, but adding another defensive end would not be a bad idea especially with Payton Turner not yet turning the corner. There’s a lot of pressure on second-round rookie Isaiah Foskey to be a long-term fix.
