The Saints have been guilty of selecting players before many believe they should go.
The idea of a reach has been a vital aspect of any NFL Draft. If you do not know what a reach is, this is when a team selects a player much higher than many expect. These moments can be considered reaches because of public perception of where draft prospects will be selected or what people in the league believe. Many draft analysts last year had Kelvin Banks Jr. as a mid- to late-first-round pick and Tyler Shough as a day-3 selection. Instead, they went much earlier to the New Orleans Saints.
Speaking of the Saints, they have never been shy to stick to their pick and select the guy they want, even if that prospect may be perceived as a reach. It has hurt them in the past, with picks like Payton Turner in the first round of the 2021 NFL Draft, but it has also worked out, as last year. The reason why New Orleans feels comfortable reaching is that they believe in their scouting process, so that will continue.
So, looking at this year's draft class, we can see which prospects the Saints may reach for.
Starting with the first round, I actually do not think it will happen. With how clear the talent is at the top 10 and how sudden the drop-off is, I think the Saints will stick with one of the prospects expected to go around there.
On day 2, this is really where drastic measures could be taken. At pick 42, RB Mike Washington Jr. would be a realistic outcome, even though he is more of a later-day 2 prospect. The Saints have been reported to have interest in Washington Jr. Getting an RB to partner with Travis Etienne could be a top goal for the team, and Washington Jr. has that highly valued home run ability.
In the third round, my reach pick would absolutely be OG Jeremiah Wright out of Auburn. Currently, Wright is projected to be selected mid-day 3, but the Saints could actually select him much earlier. RG could be a highly prioritized need for the team, and New Orleans has had major interest in Wright during the draft process. Another outcome could be the Saints trade up to the back of the third for Wright, but it would still be a "reach".
Both of these potential selections would be considered reaches, and the fanbase may have some highly negative reactions if either occurs, but just like last year, it could work out in the end. Time will tell what happens.