2013 NFL Draft: New Orleans Saints 7-Round Mock Draft
By John Carey
Oct 20, 2012; College Station, TX, USA; LSU Tigers defensive end Barkevious Mingo (49) pressures Texas A
Team Needs:
OLB, ILB, CB, FS, SS, OT
Round One Pick 15: Barkevious Mingo, OLB, Louisiana State University
The Saints announced earlier in the offseason that they are moving to a 3-4 defense, and with the hiring of Rob Ryan, that all but ensures that they will be in 2013. The Saints have pretty much no pass rush as guys like Will Smith and Cameron Jordan didn’t produce much in 2012, and neither is a fit at Outside Linebacker anyways. Barkevious Mingo would be a perfect fit in Ryan’s defense to be that edge rusher whose main priority is to just fly off the ball and get after the quarterback. Mingo didn’t produce as many sacks in 2012, but if you wacth the tape, you see that he wasn’t asked to get after the quarterback as much as he was in 2011. Mingo has all kinds of potential, and could be a major steal at 15.
Round Three Pick 75: David Amerson, CB/FS, North Carolina State
Prior to the 2012 college football season, David Amerson was herald as one of the best, if not the best Cornerbacks in this year’s draft. Some poor performance and injury concerns have dropped him into mid-2nd to 3rd round consideration, but he still has the potential to be a quality player, and would fit nicely at Free Safety for the Saints.
Round Four Pick 109: Brandon Jenkins, DE/OLB, Florida State University
Had Brandon Jenkins come out in the 2012 NFL Draft, he likely would have been a 1st or 2nd round selection, but due to a bad Lisfranc injury that took him out of all of the 2013 season, he falls in this year’s draft. Jenkins flashed a lot of really good potential in his 2011 tape, and looked like a perfect fit at 3-4 OLB. Paired with Mingo, the Saints could have a deadly duo at OLB, much like the Steelers had with Harrison and Woodley.
Round Five Pick 144: Blidi Wreh-Wilson, CB, University of Connecticut
Wilson is one of my sleepers at the Cornerback position in this year’s draft, as he didn’t play a lot of great competition, but still had some quality tape. He will need a year or two to adjust to the speed and intensity of the NFL game, but if he gets coached up and gains some strength in an NFL strength and conditioning program, he has the potential to be a starting corner.
Round Six Pick 183: Kevin Reddick, ILB, University of North Carolina
Kevin Reddick was regarded by many as a mid 2nd to 3rd round pick coming into this year’s college footbacll season, but due to some poor play, he has fallen down amny draft boards. Reddick would be a nice rotational guy for the Saints for his first few years as he adjusts to the NFL game, but could become a starter if he gets proper coaching and works hard enough.