The New Orleans Saints pulled off an epic blockbuster ahead of the 2022 NFL Draft, acquiring an additional first-round pick from the Philadelphia Eagles.
Now set to move forward without longtime head coach Sean Payton, the Saints are obviously angling to add a young quarterback to the mix. We’ll do just that in our updated Saints mock draft for the 2022 event. But before that, let’s check in on the picks New Orleans now boasts heading into Round 1 on Thursday.
Related: 2022 NFL mock draft
2022 New Orleans Saints draft picks
- First round: 16th and 19th overall
- Second round: 49th overall
- Third round: 98th overall
- Fourth round: 120th overall
- Fifth round: 161st overall
- Sixth round: 194th overall
New Orleans Saints mock draft: Forging ahead in post-Sean Payton era
In making the aforementioned trade with the Philadelphia Eagles, it now stands to reason that Saints general manager Mickey Loomis will look quarterback in the first round.
A team doesn’t give up a future first-round pick and second-round selection to target another position. It’s in this that new head coach Dennis Allen will likely have a young signal caller backing up Jameis Winston next season. That’s where we start with our full seven-round New Orleans Saints mock draft.
Related: Top 2022 NFL Draft prospects
First Round, 16th overall: Charles Cross, offensive tackle, Mississippi
This Saints mock draft gives the team a player in Cross who most experts have as one of the top-10 prospects in the draft. That’s just the way the Draft Network simulator went. It would also be an absolute coup for New Orleans.
In need of a left tackle following the departure of Pro Bowler Terron Armstead in free agency, the Saints couldn’t have drawn this up better. Cross is a legit potential future franchise blindside protector with an ability to start Day 1. He dominated elite-level competition in Mississippi’s pro-style offense and wouldn’t require much of a transition to the NFL. Talk about value and need here.
First round, 19th overall: Chris Olave, wide receiver, Ohio State
After losing out on Deshaun Watson, a reunion with quarterback Jameis Winston is now in the cards. It leaves the New Orleans Saints needing to improve the supporting cast around him.
That’s where Olave comes into play next to Michael Thomas in the passing game. The 6-foot-1 pass catcher averaged 14.4 yards per catch and hauled in 13 touchdowns a season ago. He’s already a refined route-runner and could make an immediate impact for a Saints team that lacks depth at wide receiver.
Related: Top quarterbacks in the 2022 NFL Draft
Second round, 49th overall: Sam Howell, quarterback, North Carolina
Speaking of value and need, New Orleans gets that in this former Tar Heels standout. Howell boasts tremendous intermediate accuracy and has a pretty strong arm for someone his size (6-foot-1, 225 pounds).
- Sam Howell college stats: 64% completioo, 10,283 passing yards, 1,009 rushing yards, 109 TD, 23 INT
Talk about a perfect fit in the Saints’ offense under coordinator Pete Carmichael. The better news here is that New Orleans would be able to take it slow with Howell given that it has veterans Jameis Winston and Andy Dalton already on the roster.
Third round, 98th overall: Matthew Butler, defensive tackle, Tennessee
Despite yielding the fourth-fewest points in the NFL last season, the New Orleans Saints were average against the run. That included running backs going for 1,589 yards and 12 touchdowns on the ground.
Butler would be the best of both worlds for this team. The 295-pound defensive tackle recorded 8.5 tackles for loss and five sacks for Tennessee a season ago. He’s stout stopping the run and could provide some interior pass rush next to the likes of edge guys such as Cameron Jordan and Marcus Davenport.
Rounding out the New Orleans Saints mock draft
- Fourth round, 120th overall: Jalen Wydermyer, tight end, Texas A&M
- Fifth round, 161st overall: Montaric Brown, cornerback, Arkansas
- Sixth round, 194th overall: Ty Chandler, running back, North Carolina
Let us know what you think about this New Orleans Saints mock draft in the comments section below.
