Dupuy: Saints draft for targeted needs in 2020

Interview: Al Dupuy on NASH ICON 106.1 FM talking Saints draft and roster:

 
So much for taking the best player available in the 2020 NFL draft. The New Orleans Saints drafted to fill needs, even though they have a talented roster already.

Most mock drafts had them taking LSU linebacker Patrick Queen with pick No. 24. Sure enough, Queen was available.

However, after watching game film on the playoff lost to the Vikings, Saints decision makers determined that they needed
to get better in the interior offensive line. Pressure in the face of quarterback Drew Brees cost the Saints a chance for the 2020 Super Bowl.

Even though they drafted center Erik McCoy last year, re-signed left guard Andrus Peat and still have right guard Larry Warford under contract for one more year, the Saints wanted even more interior line strength at the offensive guard and center positions.

Taking Cesar Ruiz was not a move just for the future. The 6-foot-4, 320 pounder with good speed for a big man is fine prospect with experience, smarts and leadership ability. Head coach Payton also liked his agility and quick feet.

A versatile prospect who has played both center and guard at Michigan, Ruiz is an impressive player in space and reaches the next level well. One of the better athletes at the center position, he rarely allowed a sack or penetration. He’s ready as a pass blocker which is crucial to the Payton-Brees passing game.

It appears Ruiz is targeted to take over at center while McCoy moves to guard. The two are interchangeable at the two positions though.

After selecting Ruiz, Payton also made it clear linebacker depth was needed. The Chargers traded right in front of the Saints at No. 23 to grab Kenneth Murray, a junior from Oklahoma. Queen also picked off in round one so there was no chance for New Orleans trade back up for him even if they were interested.

Instead, the third round provided opportunity to fill the need. Sending the 88th pick and a 2021 third round choice to the Browns, the Saints selected linebacker Zack Baun out of Wisconsin at No. 74 overall.

I had Baun going in the bottom of the first round. He was used mostly as an edge pass rusher for the Badgers with his agility and quickness.

Baun loves stunts and displays many pass rush moves, but he is versatile enough to be an every down linebacker in the NFL. Posting 12.5 sacks and 19 tackles for loss in his senior season, Baun made many All-American teams.

The 6-2, 238 pounder plays hard on every snap with a non-stop motor.

A foot injury in 2017 also caused Baun to miss time in 2018. The injury history may have caused him to slide some as well as testing for a diluted sample at the combine. The fact that he could not get a full medical check from NFL team doctors due to the virus lockdown may have hurt even though he showed no effects from the injury as a senior.

With all of the talented wide receivers in this draft (36 selected), the Saints did not take one but they did add another big target for the passing game at pick 105 in round three. Sending all of their remaining picks to the Vikings (fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh rounds, New Orleans selected Adam Trautman, a small-school player from Dayton with big talent.

A huge tight end (6-5 255), Trautman has excellent size plus experience as a fifth year senior and team captain. He will probably play at 260 pounds in the NFL. An athletic prospect with enough speed to stretch a defense, Trautman ran 4.8 in the 40 and did 18 reps on the bench at the combine. His ability numbers show a potential dangerous receiving option who can run all routes.

Trautman gets off the line quickly for blocks and into his routes His large catch radius and good ball skills will make him dangerous even when covered. He also helped himself with a solid week of practice at the Senior Bowl where he also showed blocking ability against major college talent.

The Saints sent a 2021 sixth round pick to the Texans to move back into the seventh round for an all-around athlete in quarterback Tommy Stevens from Mississippi State. He will be used a lot like the team uses Taysom Hill as a spot quarterback, special teams gunner, running back and even receiver. At best as a quarterback, the 6-5, 235-pound Stevens is a very long range developmental project.

Stevens rushed for 900 yards and 12 touchdowns with a 5.6 yard rushing average in his college career. He showed his Hill-like versatility at Penn State before relocating to Starkville last season. Stevens had 14 catches and two touchdowns receiving with the Nittany Lions.