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When the New Orleans Saints drafted Kool-Aid McKinstry in last year’s NFL draft, it was a move clearly set up for the following season. Marshon Lattimore was the constant subject of trade conversations, and Paulson Adebo was entering a contract year.
A year later, Lattimore has been traded, Adebo left in free agency and McKinstry is a starter at cornerback.
That’s the perks of planning ahead, and the Saints should consider doing it again this year. Demario Davis and Tyrann Mathieu are prime candidates to see their successors drafted early.
Kellen Moore put at least a band-aid on most of the Saints holes entering free agency. Cornerback, wide receiver and edge rusher are three positions the Saints should look for a potential immediate contributor.
Still the luxury to pick a second round pick who you think can be a starter in Year 2 exists. Kellen Moore shouldn't be under much pressure in 2025, and it would get ahead of the loss of aging stars.
The second round is a sweet spot for the Saints with defensive backs. The safety tandem of Mathieu and Justin Reid is safe for this season, but as mentioned this is a move for the future. This move would declare Mathieu has one more season left in New Orleans.
Picking a linebacker early would set up a contingency plan for Davis, but a high enough draft pick could lead to a competition with Pete Werner. Werner signed an extension last year, but that was Dennis Allen's choice. That contract shouldn't be used as a declaration of Brandon Staley's opinion of Werner.
A competition doesn't guarantee Werner loses his job, but he isn't at the point where a competition should be out of the question. A new linebacker entering the mix gives a chance for immediate impact as well as a potential successor to Davis.
This article originally appeared on Saints Wire: Saints should prioritize replacements for aging stars in 2025 draft
Continue reading...
A year later, Lattimore has been traded, Adebo left in free agency and McKinstry is a starter at cornerback.
That’s the perks of planning ahead, and the Saints should consider doing it again this year. Demario Davis and Tyrann Mathieu are prime candidates to see their successors drafted early.
Kellen Moore put at least a band-aid on most of the Saints holes entering free agency. Cornerback, wide receiver and edge rusher are three positions the Saints should look for a potential immediate contributor.
Still the luxury to pick a second round pick who you think can be a starter in Year 2 exists. Kellen Moore shouldn't be under much pressure in 2025, and it would get ahead of the loss of aging stars.
The second round is a sweet spot for the Saints with defensive backs. The safety tandem of Mathieu and Justin Reid is safe for this season, but as mentioned this is a move for the future. This move would declare Mathieu has one more season left in New Orleans.
Picking a linebacker early would set up a contingency plan for Davis, but a high enough draft pick could lead to a competition with Pete Werner. Werner signed an extension last year, but that was Dennis Allen's choice. That contract shouldn't be used as a declaration of Brandon Staley's opinion of Werner.
A competition doesn't guarantee Werner loses his job, but he isn't at the point where a competition should be out of the question. A new linebacker entering the mix gives a chance for immediate impact as well as a potential successor to Davis.
This article originally appeared on Saints Wire: Saints should prioritize replacements for aging stars in 2025 draft
Continue reading...
