Saints small school trend could continue in 2023 NFL Draft

While the NFL Draft is an event that features a lot of big names from big programs, every year small school prospects find their way off the board well before experts and analysts think they will. This year’s draft will be no exception.

With historically successful selections from Hofstra, Florida Atlantic, Manitoba and others, the New Orleans Saints have quite the track record of ensuring small school guys find an NFL home. Here are three prospects to keep an eye on in this year’s selection event.

OL Cody Mauch, North Dakota State

Last year, Quinn Meinerz was the fast riser following the Senior Bowl. While the Wisconsin-Whitewater offensive lineman went in the top 100 picks in the 2022 NFL Draft, Mauch may go top 40this year.

Mauch is a relentless and active blocker who is the definition of road grader. Though listed as an offensive tackle with North Dakota State, he projects best to guard in the NFL. At 6-foot-5 and 302 pounds with just over 32-inch arms, that projection feels accurate since he lacks ideal length for the edge. The talented run blocker will look to make strides in pass sets at the next level.

New Orleans would be wise to invest in its offensive interior early in the draft with both starting guards – Andrus Peat and Cesar Ruiz – coming off of injury and currently headed into contract years.

OG Sidy Sow, Eastern Michigan

Similar to Mauch, Sow is a well-built and highly athletic offensive lineman. However, Sow has spent the majority of his collegiate experience playing the interior position he best translates to in the NFL.

Sow is a menacing presence at 6-foot-4 and 323 pounds with a surprising amount of explosiveness. His 33-inch vertical leap and 9-foot-2 inch broad jump both ranked highly at his position at this year’s NFL Scouting Combine.

The MAC product may not be ready to start immediately, but as a projected fifth-round selection, he would not be expected to do so either. Sow could sit behind both starting guards and versatile veteran backup James Hurst (assuming Trevor Penning takes over full-time at left tackle), developing with the premier coaching of Doug Marone and Jahri Evans before potentially assuming a larger role in 2024, if not sooner.

S/LB Marte Mapu, Sacramento State

What is better than a linebacker that moves like a safety? How about a safety that plays like a linebacker?

It is hard not be excited about Mapu’s incredible athleticism and ability to transition that talent to the second level of a defense.

Like Mauch, Mapu is a superior athlete coming out of the FCS. At 6-foot-2 and 217 pounds, he is just 10 pounds lighter than former Saints linebacker Kwon Alexander’s listed weight. Mapu is also a shade taller and a remarkably sound tackler.

The California native learned at the age of 10 from the late Hall of Fame linebacker Junior Seau that film study is the way to improve his game. Mapu has dedicated his time off the field to exactly that. It all adds up to a versatile chess piece who Dennis Allen can use in a variety of ways.

Known as an absolute film junky that is constantly working to improve his game, Mapu was credited with teaching teammates how to do the very same. That sounds like the type of character guy the Saints love to put into their locker room if there ever was one.