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3 Players the Saints Need to Avoid With Their First-Round Pick

By Tristan Jung

The 2020 NFL Draft will be key for the Saints going forward.
The 2020 NFL Draft will be key for the Saints going forward. / Chris Graythen/Getty Images
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The New Orleans Saints have been on the verge of winning the NFC, but they've fallen short in the playoffs in heartbreaking fashion all three times. The Saints are picking near the end of the first round and only have five total picks, but they need to make some additions to shore up the roster.

If the Saints want to set themselves up for success in 2020 and the future, here are three players they should avoid taking in the first round.

1. Ross Blacklock, DT

Ross Blacklock at the 2020 NFL Combine.
Ross Blacklock at the 2020 NFL Combine. / Michael Hickey/Getty Images

The Saints are set at defensive tackle with Sheldon Rankins and David Onyemata. While adding another defensive lineman, especially one as talented as Blacklock, would be helpful, there are other needs that the Saints need to address. In two years, taking a defensive tackle here might be necessary, but for 2020 fans shouldn't expect that.

2. Justin Jefferson, WR

Justin Jefferson runs the 40-yard dash at the 2020 NFL Combine.
Justin Jefferson runs the 40-yard dash at the 2020 NFL Combine. / Joe Robbins/Getty Images

By signing Emmanuel Sanders, the Saints addressed their need for a No. 2 receiver to pair alongside Michael Thomas. LSU's Justin Jefferson is likely to be the best receiver available when the Saints pick, but taking him would be a mistake given where else the Saints need help. The concept of having Thomas, Sanders, and Jefferson sounds great on paper, but that will leave the Saints vulnerable elsewhere.

3. Jordan Love, QB

Jordan Love impressed at the NFL Combine.
Jordan Love impressed at the NFL Combine. / Joe Robbins/Getty Images

Jordan Love has been shooting up draft boards as scouts have taken a closer look at the former Utah State quarterback. However, given that the Saints placed a first-round tender to keep Taysom Hill from restricted free agency and signed Drew Brees to a two-year, $50 million contract, spending more resources on a third quarterback seems pointless. The Saints just freed up their quarterback backlog by letting Teddy Bridgewater walk in free agency, and it doesn't make sense for them to do that over again.

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Tristan Jung is not a FanDuel employee. In addition to providing DFS gameplay advice, Tristan Jung also participates in DFS contests on FanDuel using his personal account, username tristan1117. While the strategies and player selections recommended in his articles are his personal views, he may deploy different strategies and player selections when entering contests with his personal account. The views expressed in their articles are the author's alone and do not necessarily reflect the views of FanDuel.