The New Orleans Saints will be at the back-end of the first round as they will have the No. 29 overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft. New Orleans top five needs heading into this year’s draft are quarterback, wide receiver, safety, offensive guard and defensive tackle. According to the latest mock draft from Pro Football Focus (PFF), New Orleans will take the former Boston College wideout Zay Flowers.
Uncertainty in the Saints Wide Receiver Room:
The uncertainty of whether Michael Thomas and Jarvis Landry will be the biggest question mark for the Saints heading into the offseason. Thomas underwent toe surgery that sidelined him for a majority of the 2022 season. Landry’s season was filled with injuries as his season was done going into week 16’s contest against the Cleveland Browns. According to Pro Football Focus, Flowers would be able to fill the void if the Saints are unable to retain Thomas and Landry:
“There’s a good chance that Jarvis Landry and Michael Thomas will be wearing different uniforms in 2023. At that point, it’s a bare-bones Saints receiving unit. Flowers would give New Orleans an electronic duo–with Chris Olave–of separators who can win to every level of the field.”
For his performance on the field, Flowers was named to the All-ACC First Team. Flowers would go on to set the Boston College single-season mark in receiving touchdowns (12). He would also tie the record for receptions in a season (78) and produced the third most receiving yards (1,077) in a single season. Flowers would also be listed as a semifinalist for the Biletnikoff Award. He also earned recognition as the top player in the region.
Zay Flowers Scouting Report:
To hear Pro Football Network tell it, Flowers would be able to fit right in with the recievers that New Orleans has in place and the Saints would be just fine taking at the end of the first round:
“Dynamic athleticism is the genesis of Flowers’ 2023 NFL Draft scouting report. Don’t be fooled into thinking that it’s the entirety of his game, but there are a few prospects in the class who are able to consistently put their opponent in a pickle the way that Flowers can.
The Boston College wideout has ludicrous change-of-direction ability, making him extremely elusive in the open field. There are many examples across his college career where Flowers snatches souls and breaks ankles with his instantaneous ability to plan and re-route. His contortionist-esque body control enables him to evade tackles, leaving his opponent flapping at the vacated air that the elite Eagle used to inhabit.”
Depth was an issue heading into the offseason at the wide receiver position last offseason and with Landry heading to free agency. It is likely that a spot will become available that will be need to be filled before the start of next season. Chris Olave and Rashid Shaheed had a breakout rookie season, but outside of them there are holes in the depth chart at the position.
New Orleans has to be on the lookout for more help at the position and Flowers would be able to provide just that with his athleticism in the open field. Even though the Saints took a wide receiver in last year’s draft they don’t become complacent if Landry and Thomas were to be on the move. If that were to come to fruition, it would create a major hole in the Saints wide receiver room. New Orleans has to be aggressive this spring and lock up another young pass catcher that can come in to add another piece to an offense that struggled in 2022.
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