Despite only having one pick in the first three rounds, Saints General Manager Mickey Loomis says the team selected three players rated in the top 70 on their board. New Orleans made two trades during the seven round draft to move up. In round two, they made a deal with Miami to take Texas A&M Center Erik McCoy and in the fourth round they executed a deal with the Jets to take Florida safety Chauncey Gardner-Johnson. General Manager Mickey Loomis says they were calculated moves.
“When you have opportunity go get a player that you covet, you go get em,” said Loomis. “That’s been a successful formula for us, not saying it’s 100%, but it’s a successful formula for us and I think for a lot of teams,” said Loomis.
Heading into the draft, tight end was considered a position of need and in the seventh round, New Orleans selected Notre Dame tight end Alize Mack. In 2015, he was rated as the number one tight end in the nation coming out of Las Vegas, but only caught four touchdown passes at Notre Dame. Loomis says they like Mack’s potential.
“Obviously he was really a highly decorated high school player, whether he met their expectations or his that’s for someone else to say, but we like the talent and he’ll get every opportunity to succeed here,” said Loomis.
Out of the five member draft class, McCoy has the best chance to start in his rookie season, because of the retirement of starting center Max Unger. Loomis says McCoy is the type of interior O-lineman they were looking for.
“Productive, tough, smart, all of the things you want in an offensive lineman, we got a great o-line room and he’ll fit right in, he checked all of the boxes,” said Loomis.
In the 2nd round, the Saints selected Texas A&M Center Erik McCoy.
4th round, Florida safety Chauncey Gardner-Johnson
6th round, Rutgers safety Saquan Hampton, who had three interceptions last season.
1st pick in the 7th round, Notre Dame tight end Alize Mack.
2nd pick in the 7th round, Idaho linebacker Kaden Elliss.
