Kevo808'S MOCK DRAFT
  1. Home
  2. Simulator

Nola59

  • Kevo808 DRAFTING FOR THE
    Saints
Draft Selections
Kelvin Banks Jr. Head Shot
PICK: 9 RND: 1 (NO)
Kelvin Banks Jr.
OT Texas
Xavier Watts Head Shot
PICK: 40 RND: 2 (NO)
Xavier Watts
S Notre Dame
JT Tuimoloau Head Shot
PICK: 71 RND: 3 (NO)
JT Tuimoloau
DE-EDGE Ohio State
Denzel Burke Head Shot
PICK: 93 RND: 3 (NO)
Denzel Burke
CB Ohio State
Andrew Mukuba Head Shot
PICK: 111 RND: 4 (NO)
Andrew Mukuba
S Texas
Jeffrey Bassa Head Shot
PICK: 130 RND: 4 (NO)
Jeffrey Bassa
LB Oregon
Dont'e Thornton Jr. Head Shot
PICK: 186 RND: 6 (NO)
Dont'e Thornton Jr.
WR Tennessee
Thor Griffith Head Shot
PICK: 254 RND: 7 (NO)
Thor Griffith
DL Louisville
Draft Grade — Saints
Overall B
ValueB NeedB+ TradesB- FutureB-
A sensible, unshowy class lands the Saints a B.

Call it a hunch or call it a gamble, but the Saints spent the Round 7 slot on Thor Griffith, a name most had 44 spots down the list. A sturdy weekend that grades out a B.

They banked enough surplus on Mukuba to cover a lot of smaller sins. With quarterback, running back and other spots unsolved, spending premium capital on safety is the choice that costs them.

They will regret leaving quarterback for another day if the season turns on it. Edge rusher was the priority and it is no longer a question, which is most of the job.

In sum, a sturdy weekend with one asterisk, the quarterback spot they never got to.

Pick Analysis
Pick9 Rnd1 Kelvin Banks Jr.
In the Round 1 slot they get an anchor for the offensive line. Exactly the need they had to hit.
Pick40 Rnd2 Xavier Watts
A straight-up fair deal on Xavier Watts at Round 2, Pick 8, value and slot in agreement. Not urgent, but hardly pointless.
Pick71 Rnd3 JT Tuimoloau
JT Tuimoloau in the 71st pick is the kind of fall that makes a whole class. It answers the question that was keeping the coaches up at night.
Pick93 Rnd3 Denzel Burke
A tidy little value on Denzel Burke in pick No. 93, a step better than break-even. A must-fix position, and they treated it like one.
Pick111 Rnd4 Andrew Mukuba
They zigged when the board said zag, taking Andrew Mukuba at safety with quarterback, running back and other spots open.
Pick130 Rnd4 Jeffrey Bassa
Jeffrey Bassa in slot 130 is fine work, a shade of surplus and no downside. Useful depth more than a marquee fix.
Pick186 Rnd6 Dont'e Thornton Jr.
The board had Dont'e Thornton Jr. higher than pick No. 186, and the wide receiver fell to them anyway. Top of the wish list, and they did not leave without it.
Pick254 Rnd7 Thor Griffith
Thor Griffith in No. 254 is a bet on their own eyes over everyone else's grade. It fills a real need, too.