- Joined
- May 8, 2002
- Posts
- 444,516
- Reaction score
- 44
The New Orleans Saints have some tough decisions coming up in regard to the 2025 NFL draft, specifically looking at trading their selections away to move up or down in the order, or if not, choosing which players will represent their 2025 class. This is a tough call each year, and the team has had some difficulties getting things right in recent years as some players have not panned out.
Many different media sites have gone to make their own mock draft scenarios as they do each year, and the selections for each one are typically different, though there is some overlap as well. One of the more common picks for the Saints at No. 9 this year has been cornerback Will Johnson out of Michigan, who is an extremely talented prospect and has shown flashes of elite traits. Diante Lee of The Ringer had the Saints picking Johnson in his recent mock draft as well, and would provide the following rationale behind the choice:
"This was the easiest selection in the top 10. The Saints traded away CB Marshon Lattimore last season, and Paulson Adebo signed with the Giants in free agency, so bringing in Will Johnson checks the biggest defensive need New Orleans has. But more than simply filling a hole, Johnson is the right kind of high-floor player to kick off what needs to be a multiyear roster pivot for the Saints. Johnson reminds me a bit of Sauce Gardner when he’s in coverage, pairing his excellent straight-line speed with good physicality at the line of scrimmage. Johnson is just a shade under 200 pounds, so he has the size necessary to show up as a tackler on the perimeter, and we’ve seen his ball skills throughout his career. If you like prototypical man coverage corners, Johnson is the best at it in this class."
When it comes down to it, the logic is sound, as the Saints are pretty short-handed at the cornerback position. With Kool-Aid McKinstry, Alontae Taylor, and Isaac Yiadom projected to be the starters currently, they could use some top-end talent to solidify things and really strengthen the secondary. A group consisting of McKinstry and Johnson on the outside, Taylor in the slot, Yiadom and Rico Payton as the next men up, with Tyrann Mathieu and Justin Reid at safety, is a recipe for success no doubt.
Johnson has had a proven track record of success previously as well which makes the pick all the more worthwhile, as in 32 collegiate games he had 57 total tackles, 4 tackles for loss, 9 interceptions (returned for 237 yards and 3 touchdowns), and 10 pass deflections. He is someone who can define a position group, and if the Saints choose to select him at pick No. 9, they would definitely benefit from his skillset.
This article originally appeared on Saints Wire: The Ringer's latest mock draft has Saints replacing Marshon Lattimore
Continue reading...
Many different media sites have gone to make their own mock draft scenarios as they do each year, and the selections for each one are typically different, though there is some overlap as well. One of the more common picks for the Saints at No. 9 this year has been cornerback Will Johnson out of Michigan, who is an extremely talented prospect and has shown flashes of elite traits. Diante Lee of The Ringer had the Saints picking Johnson in his recent mock draft as well, and would provide the following rationale behind the choice:
"This was the easiest selection in the top 10. The Saints traded away CB Marshon Lattimore last season, and Paulson Adebo signed with the Giants in free agency, so bringing in Will Johnson checks the biggest defensive need New Orleans has. But more than simply filling a hole, Johnson is the right kind of high-floor player to kick off what needs to be a multiyear roster pivot for the Saints. Johnson reminds me a bit of Sauce Gardner when he’s in coverage, pairing his excellent straight-line speed with good physicality at the line of scrimmage. Johnson is just a shade under 200 pounds, so he has the size necessary to show up as a tackler on the perimeter, and we’ve seen his ball skills throughout his career. If you like prototypical man coverage corners, Johnson is the best at it in this class."
When it comes down to it, the logic is sound, as the Saints are pretty short-handed at the cornerback position. With Kool-Aid McKinstry, Alontae Taylor, and Isaac Yiadom projected to be the starters currently, they could use some top-end talent to solidify things and really strengthen the secondary. A group consisting of McKinstry and Johnson on the outside, Taylor in the slot, Yiadom and Rico Payton as the next men up, with Tyrann Mathieu and Justin Reid at safety, is a recipe for success no doubt.
Johnson has had a proven track record of success previously as well which makes the pick all the more worthwhile, as in 32 collegiate games he had 57 total tackles, 4 tackles for loss, 9 interceptions (returned for 237 yards and 3 touchdowns), and 10 pass deflections. He is someone who can define a position group, and if the Saints choose to select him at pick No. 9, they would definitely benefit from his skillset.
This article originally appeared on Saints Wire: The Ringer's latest mock draft has Saints replacing Marshon Lattimore
Continue reading...
