Likely Draft Candidates For the Saints at Pick 29

We are officially under a week from the start of the 2023 NFL Draft, and the New Orleans Saints will be on the clock with the 29th overall pick. The consensus has been for the Saints to likely take a defensive tackle with their first pick in the draft, but there are certainly other options on the table. New Orleans has been mocked to either take a defensive lineman or a pass catcher with the 29th overall pick.

It also wouldn’t come as a shock to Saints fans if New Orleans decides to move up in the draft as they are commonly inclined to do, as we had seen Mickey Loomis and company trade up in the past several years of the draft, including last year when they traded up to snag Chris Olave in a trade with the Philadelphia Eagles. If New Orleans stays put at pick 29, here are the likely candidates that will be available when the Saints are on the clock at the end of the first round.

Calijah Kancey, DT, Pittsburgh:

Defensive tackle has quickly become one of the Saints’ top draft needs after losing Shy Tuttle, David Onyemata, and Kentavius Street to free agency. New Orleans was able to sign Khalen Saunders and Nathan Shepherd, but it wouldn’t be the worse idea to add another weapon on the interior of the defensive line.

Calijah Kancey is one of the top defensive tackles in the class and would be a slam-dunk pick for the Saints with the 29th overall pick. During the 2022 season at Pittsburgh, Kancey would earn unanimous All-American honors. Kancey started in all 11 games for the Panthers at defensive tackle. In 2022, Kancey compiled 31 tackles, 14.5 tackles for loss, and 7.5 sacks. He would lead the nation’s interior defenders with 14.5 tackles and would have a career-high 3.5 sacks against Virginia.

Bryan Bresee, DT, Clemson:

Clemson DT Bryan Bresee (11) – John Byrum/Getty Images

Along with Kancey, Bryan Bresee has become the popular pick for the Saints amongst several NFL Draft analysts across the board. Defensive tackle is a huge need coming into the 2023 NFL Draft for New Orleans as the Saints’ pass rush continued to struggle during the 2022 season. The Saints were able to add key free agents in the offseason, but adding another body on the interior is a must for New Orleans.

Bresee was a second-team All-ACC selection in 2022, as he was credited with 16 tackles (5.5 for loss), 3.5 sacks, and two pass breakups in 329 snaps. During his career at Clemson, Bresee was credited with 64 tackles (15.0 for loss), 9.0 sacks, four pass breakups, an interception, a forced fumble, and a safety in 915 snaps

Myles Murphy, DE, Clemson:

Clemson EDGE Myles Murphy (98) – Travis Bell/Sideline Carolina

Another Clemson Tiger that could be in the market for the Saints with the 29th overall pick is defensive end Myles Murphy. Defensive end is also another priority for New Orleans heading into this year’s draft, as the Saints lost Marcus Davenport in free agency. Outside of Davenport, the Saints were able to restructure Cam Jordan’s contract to keep him in New Orleans. Jordan isn’t getting any younger, so it would be a benefit to the team to add fresh legs to the opposite side of the defensive line.

Murphy was consistent during his three years with the Tigers, and he is coming off a stellar 2022 campaign. During the 2022 season, Murphy was credited with 45 tackles (11.0 for loss), a team-high-tying 6.5 sacks, three pass breakups, and a forced fumble in 580 defensive snaps. He was able to show growth since his true freshman season and has become one of the pass edge rushers in this year’s draft class.

Mazi Smith, DT, Michigan:

Michigan DT Mazi Smith (58) – Carlos Osorio/AP Photo

Mazi Smith is another defensive tackle that could be available when the Saints are on the clock in the first round. If Bresee and Kancey are off the board at pick 29, then the Saints could go a different direction in selecting the defensive tackle out of Michigan. Either way, New Orleans has to use one of their first two picks to be able to address the need at the position.

Smith started in all 14 games at nose tackle for the Wolverines during the 2022 season, and he was an All-Big Ten selection for his performance on the field. In 2022, Smith registered 48 tackles with 2.5 for loss and a share of a sack and had one forced fumble. The star defensive tackle would be named Defensive Player of the Week for his performance against Maryland, Penn State, Illinois, and Ohio State.

Zay Flowers, WR, Boston College:

Boston College WR Zay Flowers (4) – Michael Dwyer/AP Photo

There are multiple wide receivers that will hear their names called in the first round of the 2023 NFL Draft. The two likely candidates to be out of the Saints draft range are Ohio State’s Jaxon Smith-Njiba and TCU’s Quentin Johnston. If the Saints decide to zone in on the offensive side of the ball, then the next man in line in the pass-catching department is Boston College’s, Zay Flowers. Flowers would be able to complement the core that the Saints have in place at the position, with Michael Thomas, Chris Olave, and Rashid Shaheed leading the way.

Flowers enters as one of the best wide receivers in this draft class and he could become the first Boston College wide receiver to be selected in the first round of the draft. During the 2022 season, Flowers hauled in 78 receptions for 1,077 yards and 12 touchdowns. Flowers would earn third-team All-American honors as he set the Boston College single-season mark for receiving touchdowns (12).

Michael Mayer, TE, Notre Dame:

Notre Dame TE Michael Mayer (87) – Matt Cashore/USA Today Sports

Not only can the Saints zone in on wide receivers, but tight end could also be another route that the Saints take with their first selection in the draft. New Orleans was able to bring back Juwan Johnson as he was coming off a career year with the Saints. With the new addition of Derek Carr and his ability to have success connecting with the tight end, this certainly isn’t out of the ballpark. The tight end draft class is filled with talent, and Notre Dame’s Michael Mayer tops the list.

Mayer had a consistent collegiate career with the Fighting Irish, and he was able to end his tenure at Notre Dame on a high note. The talented tight end finished the 2022 season with 67 receptions for 809 yards and nine touchdowns. What has scouts raving about Mayer is his ability to fight his way off the line of scrimmage, and is one of the best blocking tight ends in this year’s draft class.

Darnell Washington, TE, Georgia:

Georgia TE Darnell Washington (0) – Brett Davis/USA Today Sports

Another tight end that could be on the Saints’ board is Georgia’s Darnell Washington. Washington’s size catches NFL scouts around the league as he stands at 6-7 and weighs 270 lbs. Washington is able to use his size to become an effective pass blocker, and he is a powerful open-field runner.

Washington started in 14 of the 15 games during the 2022 season for the Bulldogs. During the 2022 season, Washington hauled in 27 catches for 440 yards and a touchdown. The stats for Washington during his collegiate career at Georgia isn’t eye-popping, but he has the upside to become a successful tight end at the next level.