Saints: 2021 NFL Draft primer as life without Drew Brees begins

Team needs for Saints remaining

Team need no. 1: Cornerback

The 2020 season represented something of a high point for the oft-maligned New Orleans cornerback group. Janoris Jenkins gave the team its first legitimate number two corner in recent history alongside Marshon Lattimore, and veterans Patrick Robinson and P.J. Williams combined to contribute competent depth and spot starts at the position. However, as we fast forward to the present, a single defection among the group has the Saints in a predicament heading into this year’s draft.

While 3 of the team’s top corners are set to return for the 2021 season, the current roster holds no answer for the opening created by Jenkins’ departure in free agency. If the Saints’ defense is to continue its ascent from persistent doormat to among the league’s best, there should be no greater priority than addressing the opening opposite Lattimore

Team need no. 2: Wide Receiver

The second team need in New Orleans is a departure from the first in form and severity. Nonetheless, the wide receiver position is an area that the team figures to address in next week’s draft.

The current group is well represented at the top of its ranks with star split end, Michael Thomas, emerging threat Tre’Quan Smith and 2020 UDFA find Marquez Callaway.  It is once you look beyond the top 3, however, that the Lil’Jordan Humphrey and Juwan Johnsons of the world paint a much bleaker picture.  Though the oversized, possession-types served a purpose for an aging Brees, the Saints offense moving forward would seem to benefit from more dynamic options at the position that can test opposing defenses down the field.

Team need no. 3: Linebacker

Though the Saints boast one of the league’s top off-ball linebackers in Demario Davis, the team will be without his top 2020 cohorts in the upcoming season.  With Alex Anzalone having exited New Orleans as a free agent, and in-season addition Kwon Alexander searching for a new team as he recovers from a season-ending injury, the spot alongside Davis at the second level of the Saints D represents something of a question mark for the team.

Though the Saints addressed the position in the third round of last year’s draft by way of Zack Baun, he seems more likely to man the lesser-used SAM linebacker position at this point in his development.  Likewise for third-year man Kaden Elliss, although he played the Mike position in the 2019 preseason before an injury caused him to miss his rookie campaign, and could factor into the equation in the middle on base downs.

While the team is thought to be high on fellow 2019 rookie addition Chase Hansen, the converted college safety has yet to see the field in a meaningful way after suffering injuries of his own to start his career in New Orleans.