Saints make draft day trade, land haul in 7-round 2021 NFL Mock Draft
Round 2, Pick 47 – Rondale Moore WR Purdue
The relationship between the Saints and star wide receiver Michael Thomas took a hit last season. The fracture may be beyond repair. But whether or not Thomas leaves, the Saints will still likely have a hole at the position on the opposite side. Emmanuel Sanders could be a cap casualty as the Saints desperately attempt to get under the cap. Cutting ties with Sanders would mean taking on $4 million in dead money, but it would save them $6.5 million against the cap.
Purdue wide receiver Rondale Moore could be a great candidate to replace Sanders and usher in a new era for the Saints at the position. Moore could come in and be a great complement to Thomas, should he stay with the team. He also has the talent to command the wide receiver room himself and be a true #1 receiver in this league. Moore has the talent to be a first-round pick, but with how deep the class is, and other positions driving receivers down the board, he could be a steal for the Saints at the top of the second.
Round 2, Pick 60 – Chazz Surratt LB UNC
Midway through the 2020 NFL season, the Saints traded for 49ers linebacker Kwon Alexander. Alexander was brought in to give fellow linebacker Demario Davis some help bolstering the Saints defense. Alexander performed well in his limited time with the team. Unfortunately, his days in New Orleans are likely over, as Alexander is a likely cap casualty in the offseason.
Parting ways with Alexander saves the team just over $13 million against the cap, and opens the door for them to get younger and more athletic at the position. Enter North Carolina linebacker Chazz Surratt. Fairly new to the position, Surratt — a former quarterback — has excelled in his new home. He understands the position from a perspective few others coming into the league have. He’s not the most athletically-gifted of the group, but he has plenty of juice. He could be the perfect running mate for Davis, or a key cog in the future of the position for New Orleans. More on that in a moment.
Round 2, Pick 64 – Hunter Long TE Boston College
The Saints offense is likely to look significantly different in 2021. We still don’t know whether or not quarterback Drew Brees will be with the team — though all signs point to a retirement. We’ve already discussed the questions circling around wide receiver Michael Thomas. Another departure for the offense could come in the form of tight end Jared Cook. While Cook is not likely to be released — it would not save the Saints any money against the cap — he could follow Brees into retirement. Cook will be 34 by the start of the season and could decide to call it a career.
Should Cook hang up the cleats, the Saints should be thrilled to bring in Boston College tight end Hunter Long as his heir apparent. Long may be an overlooked name in this tight end class, behind names with more star power like Kyle Pitts, Pat Freirmuth, and Brevin Jordan. However, some believe that Long is arguably one of the top tight ends in the class. Every offense benefits from having a security blanket over the middle, and Long fits that description to a T.