With The First Pick
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Saints: WTFP 2020 NFL Draft 3-round staff mock picks and explanations

By Sam Penix

NEW ORLEANS, LA - AUGUST 26: (Left to Right) Head coach Sean Payton of the New Orleans Saints, owners Gayle and Tom Benson, and general manager Mickey Loomis talk before a game at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome on August 26, 2016 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images)
NEW ORLEANS, LA - AUGUST 26: (Left to Right) Head coach Sean Payton of the New Orleans Saints, owners Gayle and Tom Benson, and general manager Mickey Loomis talk before a game at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome on August 26, 2016 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images) /
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SEATTLE, WASHINGTON – NOVEMBER 02: Jaylon Johnson #1 of the Utah Utes intercepts a Jacob Eason #10 of the Washington Huskies pass and returns it for a 39 yard for a touchdown during the third quarter of the game at Husky Stadium on November 02, 2019 in Seattle, Washington. The Utah Utes top the Washington Huskies 33-28. (Photo by Alika Jenner/Getty Images)
SEATTLE, WASHINGTON – NOVEMBER 02: Jaylon Johnson #1 of the Utah Utes intercepts a Jacob Eason #10 of the Washington Huskies pass and returns it for a 39 yard for a touchdown during the third quarter of the game at Husky Stadium on November 02, 2019 in Seattle, Washington. The Utah Utes top the Washington Huskies 33-28. (Photo by Alika Jenner/Getty Images) /

CB. Utah. 15. Scouting Report. Pick Analysis. Jaylon Johnson. 24. player

With both of the top linebackers (LSU’s Patrick Queen and Oklahoma’s Kenneth Murray) off the board, the Saints decide to bolster their already solid secondary by adding Johnson, one of the best playmakers in the class.

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Over his three years at Utah, the highest passer rating that Johnson allowed in coverage was a measly 57.9. He had seven interceptions over his career and is known to have an incredible work ethic in the film room.

Johnson is extremely smart and at 6’0″ 193lbs has good enough size to be a very effective NFL player. He tested fairly well at the NFL Combine in March and proved he has what it takes to play on the outside.

With Marshon Lattimore entrenched as New Orleans’ CB1, Johnson will likely be targeted quite often as a rookie, which is fine. The Saints still have P.J. Williams, Patrick Robinson, and Janoris Jenkins as depth. But Johnson’s smarts should lead to a good amount of pass breakups and picks as a rookie.

NFL teams can never have too many good defensive backs nowadays, and adding another good cover guy to the secondary will help out the pass rush.

Alabama safety Xavier McKinney was also under consideration here, but with Marcus Williams, Malcom Jenkins, Chauncy Gardner-Johnson, and D.J. Swearinger forming a good safety room, Johnson would be the more impactful choice.

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