Saints get smart picks despite few selections in draft

NEW ORLEANS -- Although the New Orleans Saints only selected five of the 254 picks in the 2019 NFL Draft, most experts believe the Saints chose wisely, giving the defending NFC South champions either an A or a B grade for all five of their choices.
First and foremost, New Orleans went after a need when they selected Texas A&M center Erik McCoy with the 48th overall pick. Saints’ Head Coach Sean Payton, needing a center for retired veteran Max Unger, had McCoy on their radar.
“In the process, he stood out,” Payton said. “You see his strength on tape each game you watch. We really had a high grade on him. He played a high level of competition, and you see the consistency. There were just a lot of things to like.”
New Orleans hopes that McCoy will be a key cog in protecting future Hall of Famer Drew Brees in the upcoming years, if not this season, as some experts believe could happen.
The Saints did address this same issue in free agency when they signed center/guard Nick Easton away from the Minnesota Vikings. But, the hope is that McCoy can make a splash right away.
Another steal for New Orleans, according to Gil Brandt, former Dallas Cowboys’ VP of Player Personnel, was the second pick of the draft. With that pick, the Saints drafted Chauncey Gardner-Johnson. The Florida Gator safety said that “I can do anything for anybody” when asked where he thinks he will be projected to play in the NFL.
Gardner-Johnson finished his college career at Florida with nine interceptions, including three that he returned for touchdowns. That is one of the reasons the Saints felt that they had to trade up to get the former Gator.
According to New Orleans’ General Manager Mickey Loomis, any trade up is a risk, but it is worth it if that is the guy you want.
“It’s calculated,” Loomis said. “When you have the opportunity to go get somebody, to get a player you covet, you go get them. That’s been a successful formula for us. I’m not saying it’s 100 percent, but it’s 100 percent for us. If you like the player, go get him.”
The Saints addressed the defensive backfield once again when they selected safety Saquan Hampton from Rutgers University. Hampton is expected to be the guy that can cover the slot receiver, something he did in college. Hampton should compete for a special teams spot also.
For their fourth pick of the draft, New Orleans went after tight end Alize Mack. With the retirement of Ben Watson, the Saints are hoping that Mack can be a tight end that they can count on in the future. New Orleans also addressed this position in the offseason when they signed free agent Jared Cook from the Oakland Raiders.
The final draft pick for the Saints also came on the defensive side of the ball. Kaden Elliss, linebacker from Idaho, was chosen as the 244th pick. Elliss jumped onto the draft radar with a ridiculous pro day. He is expected to add a ton of depth at that position.