Thoughts on NFL Draft targets who make sense for Saints

Since 2016, the New Orleans Saints have been one of the top organizations in the NFL at mastering the draft.

The 2017 draft, one that produced Marshon Lattimore, Ryan Ramczyk, Marcus Williams, Alvin Kamara and Trey Hendrickson, is one of the best in franchise history and in the NFL in recent memory.

But even the best need some unsolicited advice from the cheap seats.

If I were the Saints and I were looking for a young quarterback to develop, I would take a late round flyer on Notre Dame’s Ian Book.

Beginning his ascent at Notre Dame when he came off the bench to lead the Irish to a Citrus Bowl win over LSU, Book showed off some of his best traits. He has the ability to improvise, throw accurately and lead.

Book was 14-of-19 against LSU that day with two touchdown passes.

LSU was the better team, but Notre Dame had Ian Book.

Only 6-feet tall, Book plays big and his best against the best competition.

He was 27-of-39 against Alabama and 20-of-28 against Clemson.

He’s a winner.

They’ll be plenty of signal callers drafted in front of Book. Most will be taller and most with bigger arms but book it, Ian can play.

It will never happen but…I would love to see the Saints draft Alabama running back Najee Harris.

He’s a great story. Grew up in the Bay Area. Was homeless for a time. He goes to Alabama and sets school records for rushing yards and touchdowns.

A friend in the football world, who knows Harris very well, said he is a great human. Harris would be a perfect fit in the Saints culture.

The big man can do it all, including block and catch. A backfield with he and Alvin Kamara in it looks unreal.

If no Najee, how about another Ohio State Buckeye?

Running back Trey Sermon rushed for 331 yards in the Big Ten Championship against Northwestern. He only ran a 4.59 in the forty, but in the Sugar Bowl against Clemson, he was awfully impressive.

Sermon, with a mid round selection, wouldn’t be a bad investment.

Defensive tackle Bobby Brown III of Texas A&M is an intriguing pick. He doesn’t turn 21 until August.

Yet he is a 6-4, 321-pound run stuffer who also had 5.5 sacks last season. Brown has a huge wing span, more than 85 inches.

Staying in the SEC, Auburn wide receiver Seth Williams fits the Sean Payton profile. Tall.

Williams stands 6-3 and runs a sub 4.5 forty. He gets to a lot of 50-50 balls.

In 2019, he had 830 receiving yards and 8 TD catches.

Williams has a different resume’ quirk. He went to Paul Bryant High School, and then attended Auburn.

A consistent performer in an offense that was not a passing juggernaut, Williams can make the big play.

If the Saints need a reference on Williams, they should ask the LSU secondary. Williams totaled eight catches for 136 yards and a score in two meetings.

As a mid-round choice, hopefully after the Saints have drafted at least two cornerbacks, Williams could be in play.

And then there’s Kelvin Joseph.

The former Scotlandville star had four interceptions in nine games in his only season as a starter at Kentucky. He opted out of the final two games to get draft ready.

Joseph was suspended for LSU’s Fiesta Bowl game against Central Florida. He later apologized on Twitter but eventually left for the SEC East.

Maturity issues have dogged Joseph, but he has a very high ceiling.

Would the Saints be inclined to take a chance?

It’s an important draft for the cap-strapped Saints. The right combination of taking good chances, good people and good risks can help keep a winning organization on track.