One of the top NFL insiders selects a player that Saints fans would fall in love with.
With it being draft season and the New Orleans Saints having a top 10 pick, much focus is on mock drafts around the internet to see who the Saints could select. It's always nice to see the player you want to go to the Saints to be selected in a mock draft, but it's even better when NFL Insider Daniel Jeremiah does it.
His mock drafts are not focused on what he would do, but they are more about what he is hearing around the league with teams and prospects. So, the picks that may seem wild now may make sense in the future. In his first mock draft, he had the Saints select Jeremiyah Love, which would be an excellent pick, and in mock draft 2.0, he had the Saints stick with the offensive route.
Who Did the Saints Select at Pick 8?
When the Saints' pick came around, they had some nice options. Love and Caleb Downs were still on the board, but in the end, New Orleans went with USC WR Makai Lemon as the choice.
Here is what Jeremiah had to say about the selection: "The Saints inject a major boost to Tyler Shough’s receiving corps. Kellen Moore will know exactly how to utilize Lemon’s skills. "
Looking at the Saints' current WR room, Lemon would be a perfect fit. Chris Olave would be the clear WR1, Lemon would be the 2, and Devaughn Vele would be the 3. All three players can move throughout the offense, and although Lemon should be primarily in the slot, he still has the ability to play on the outside.
As a player, Lemon's combination of route-running and ability to make tough catches makes him a dynamic WR. He won't beat defenders with pure speed, but after the catch, he adds something new to the Saints' offense. Once Lemon has the ball, he is extremely hard to tackle and is elusive enough to make defenders completely miss. He is also a threat in every part of the field, and for QB Tyler Shough, he would be a top option right away.
Offical measurments are not out yet, so as of now, Lemon is listed at 5-foot-11. He could be shorter, which may drop the star's draft stock, but that should not matter to the Saints. The height is not an issue in contested catch situations, and besides Vele, he would be the best WR in those situations on the roster.