The 2022 NFL draft is just a week away (give or take a day, and depending on which time zone you’re reading this from, sure) and the New Orleans Saints have done a really good job at positioning themselves to land some impact players. Between a blockbuster trade to acquire another first-round pick and some underrated additions in free agency, this is a team that can compete right away.
New Orleans now has a few clear roster needs to address and enough prime draft picks (at Nos. 16, 19, 49, and 98 overall) to check those boxes in a hurry. Later-round picks at Nos. 120, 161, and 194 are also useful for adding more rookie talent, and maybe packaging in trades for some more draft-day maneuvering once the board takes shape.
So with all of that said, here are some of the positions we could see the Saints go after in the upcoming 2022 draft:
Wide receiver
Greg Bartram-USA TODAY Sports
No shock here: wideout is the weakest position on the depth chart, with the Saints effectively putting all of their eggs in one basket and hoping that Michael Thomas won’t miss a beat after returning to good health after two uneven years managing a complicated ankle injury. They haven’t added any new players to the receiving corps who weren’t around last season except for reserve/future signings Jalen McCleskey (who did join the Saints for training camp) and Kirk Merritt (who did not).
Not to knock Marquez Callaway and Deonte Harty, but neither of them should be asked to start and run against opposing teams’ best cornerbacks each week. It’s doing them a disservice and taking them out of their best position to succeed. Adding a draft prospect with real star power to push them each down the depth chart, so that they’re lining up against slot corners and safeties and maybe even linebackers sometimes, should be New Orleans’ top priority.
Beyond the receivers we’ve already named, the Saints are running it back with Tre’Quan Smith, Kevin White, Lil’Jordan Humphrey, Easop Winston…