This article is part of our NFL Draft Team Needs series.
Team draft picks (5)
Round 1 (15)
Round 3 (75)
Round 4 (109)
Round 5 (144)
Round 6 (183)
1. Defensive line
Cameron Jordan is a very good fit at one of the end spots in New Orleans' 3-4 defense, but it's difficult to tell if they have anything at the other end position. Akiem Hicks is a candidate there, but if he is, the Saints still need to add talent at nose tackle.
Potential targets
First round
Sheldon Richardson, DE, Missouri
Sylvester Williams, DE, North Carolina
Datone Jones, DE, UCLA
Kawann Short, DT, Purdue
Margus Hunt, DE, SMU
John Jenkins, DT, Georgia
Jesse Williams, DT, Alabama
Third round
Brandon Williams, DT, Missouri Southern State
Johnathan Hankins, DT, Ohio State
Akeem Spence, DT, Illinois
Bennie Logan, DE, LSU
Fourth round
Lavar Edwards, DE, LSU
William Gholston, DE, Michigan State
Jordan Hill, DT, Penn Staet
Fifth through seventh rounds
Montori Hughes, DT, Tennessee-Martin
Josh Boyd, DT, Mississippi State
Nick Williams, DT, Samford
Jared Smith, DT, New Hampshire
2. 3-4 Outside linebacker
The Saints have some hope at outside linebacker, where former third-round pick Martez Wilson and free agent signing Victor Butler offer some explosiveness. But both players are unproven, and the Saints should add some top talent at the position if they get the chance to.
Potential targets
First round
Cornellius Carradine, Florida State
Jarvis Jones, Georgia
Third round
Team draft picks (5)
Round 1 (15)
Round 3 (75)
Round 4 (109)
Round 5 (144)
Round 6 (183)
1. Defensive line
Cameron Jordan is a very good fit at one of the end spots in New Orleans' 3-4 defense, but it's difficult to tell if they have anything at the other end position. Akiem Hicks is a candidate there, but if he is, the Saints still need to add talent at nose tackle.
Potential targets
First round
Sheldon Richardson, DE, Missouri
Sylvester Williams, DE, North Carolina
Datone Jones, DE, UCLA
Kawann Short, DT, Purdue
Margus Hunt, DE, SMU
John Jenkins, DT, Georgia
Jesse Williams, DT, Alabama
Third round
Brandon Williams, DT, Missouri Southern State
Johnathan Hankins, DT, Ohio State
Akeem Spence, DT, Illinois
Bennie Logan, DE, LSU
Fourth round
Lavar Edwards, DE, LSU
William Gholston, DE, Michigan State
Jordan Hill, DT, Penn Staet
Fifth through seventh rounds
Montori Hughes, DT, Tennessee-Martin
Josh Boyd, DT, Mississippi State
Nick Williams, DT, Samford
Jared Smith, DT, New Hampshire
2. 3-4 Outside linebacker
The Saints have some hope at outside linebacker, where former third-round pick Martez Wilson and free agent signing Victor Butler offer some explosiveness. But both players are unproven, and the Saints should add some top talent at the position if they get the chance to.
Potential targets
First round
Cornellius Carradine, Florida State
Jarvis Jones, Georgia
Third round
Corey Lemonier, Auburn
Cornelius Washington, Georgia
Trevardo Williams, Connecticut
Damontre Moore, Texas A&M
Fourth round
Lerentee McCray, Florida
Stansly Maponga, TCU
David Bass, Missouri Western State
Michael Buchanan, Illinois
John Simon, Ohio State
Fifth through seventh rounds
Tristan Okpalaugo, Fresno State
Quanterus Smith, Western Kentucky
Travis Johnson, San Jose State
3. Cornerback
Although Jabari Greer and Patrick Robinson aren't going anywhere, neither is worth getting too excited about, and the Saints have almost nothing at cornerback otherwise. The Saints need to upgrade the third corner spot and apply some heat to Greer and Robinson.
Potential targets
First round
Xavier Rhodes, Florida State
Jamar Taylor, Boise State
Desmond Trufant, Washington
Third round
Sanders Commings, Georgia
Johnthan Banks, Mississippi State
Darius Slay, Mississippi State
Tharold Simon, LSU
B.W. Webb, William & Mary
David Amerson, North Carolina State
Leon McFadden, San Diego State
Fourth round
Tyrann Mathieu, LSU
Jordan Poyer, Oregon State
Terry Hawthorne, Illinois
Dwayne Gratz, Connecticut
Will Davis, Utah State
Fifth through seventh rounds
Adrian Bushell, Louisville
Logan Ryan, Rutgers
Nickell Robey, USC
Johnny Adams, Michigan State
Other needs: offensive tackle, wide receiver depth
