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Mel Kiper Projects Surprising First-Round Pick for Saints in Latest Mock Draft

By Larry Rupp

Mel Kiper projects a surprising first-round pick for the New Orleans Saints in his latest NFL mock draft.
Mel Kiper projects a surprising first-round pick for the New Orleans Saints in his latest NFL mock draft. / Wesley Hitt/Getty Images
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The New Orleans Saints head into the offseason with hopes to improve the roster and make a run at a Super Bowl next season. The NFL Draft is quickly approaching and no one truly knows what the Saints will do with their No. 27 overall pick. Mel Kiper's projects a surprising first-round selection.

Kiper has the Saints taking Louisville wide receiver Tutu Atwell with their first-round pick. In what is a loaded wide receiver class, it is possible that Atwell may be sneaking under the radar a bit. He has the speed and skills necessary to be a starting receiver at the next level.

Tutu Atwell Saints

After cutting veteran Emmanuel Sanders, the Saints do have a need for a reliable wide receiver to line up alongside Michael Thomas and Tre'Quan Smith. Atwell excelled when playing in the slot during college and head coach Sean Payton could look to use him in that same spot in the NFL.

Atwell played in 32 games over three seasons with the Cardinals and hauled in a total of 139 receptions for 2,303 yards and 20 touchdowns. He averaged 16.6 yards per reception and showcased an impressive skill set including short-area quickness and downfield playmaking abilities.

The young receiver has proven that he can also return kicks or be a threat out of the backfield if needed. His versatility and open-field agility would make him a welcome addition to the Saints' wide receiver group. Don't be surprised if we hear Atwell's name called on the first night of the draft.

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Larry Rupp is not a FanDuel employee. In addition to providing DFS gameplay advice, Larry Rupp also participates in DFS contests on FanDuel using his personal account, username phillyfan424. 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. 

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