The Saints are heading into 12 months 1 beneath first-time head coach Kellen Moore. The previous beginning quarterback from Boise State has seen a quick rise by means of the teaching ranks since he hung up his cleats after the 2017 season. After working offenses for the Cowboys, Chargers, and reigning Tremendous Bowl champ Eagles, he’s now on the helm of the New Orleans Saints.
Moore will enter the 2025 season with Derek Carr as his beginning quarterback. He’s received some notable names on offense already in working again Alvin Kamara and wideout Chris Olave. Previous that, there’s not an entire lot to like for a man who simply received achieved calling probably the greatest offenses within the NFL.
The Saints might use some additional firepower and they’re on the clock with SB Nation’s prime wideout and tight finish nonetheless on the board. It appears virtually a foregone conclusion that one among them finally ends up going right here.
So with that stated, Canal Avenue Chronicles’ Tina Howell selects…
*pause for dramatic impact….
…Arizona wideout Tetairoa McMillan with the ninth total choose!
9.) New Orleans Saints: Tetairoa McMillan, WR, Arizona
Howell: Final season, the New Orleans Saints had been plagued with accidents, particularly on the WR place. With Rashid Shaheed getting back from a torn meniscus, Chris Olave struggling his fourth NFL and fifth profession concussion, Taysom Hill’s torn ACL and Marquez Valdes-Scantling leaving in free company, there are nonetheless some questions lingering over the soundness of that receiving group. Whereas the Saints did simply signal Brandin Cooks, McMillan is a big-bodied receiver who can use his measurement to make contested catches and massive performs that we haven’t seen shortly from the offense.
Evaluation: The Saints have a “fantastic sufficient” trio at wideout for Moore to work with in 12 months 1, however that shouldn’t cease them from taking the draft’s WR1 had been he to be right here at No. 9. McMillan is a distinct sort of receiver from both Olave, veteran Brandin Cooks, and Rashid Shaheed. He’s 6’4 and 215 kilos. That’s fairly the scale in comparison with these different three, all of whom measure in at 6’0 or shorter and 190 kilos or lighter. McMillan offers the Saints a tall, bodily presence outdoors the numbers who can win in any respect three ranges of the protection. He assaults the ball with ferocity and possesses the physique management to make toe-tap grabs on the boundary strains.
In a division that options bigger wideouts similar to Mike Evans and Drake London, Moore and the Saints get their very own mismatch participant right here in McMillan.
High 5 remaining gamers:
- Ashton Jeanty, RB, Boise State
- Jahdae Barron, CB, Texas
- Tyler Warren, TE, Penn State
- Malaki Starks, S Georgia
- James Pearce Jr., EDGE, Tennessee
So there goes the highest vast receiver within the draft. With 9 picks off the board, we’re nonetheless trying on the prime working again, cornerback, tight finish, and security all nonetheless obtainable. That’s lots of expertise available as we’re nearly achieved with the highest 10 picks on this yr’s group mock. The Bears, who choose subsequent, positive have their choose of the litter relying on the place they really feel they want probably the most assist beneath new head coach Ben Johnson.