Post-draft news conferences normally are a time for bragging. Coaches and executives boast how they selected the top players available on their board. They all seemed to land steals and immediate difference makers who could put them over the top.
Dennis Allen took a more measured, realistic approach.
Sure, the New Orleans Saints coach was pleased with how the three-day draft unfolded for his team. But of the Saints’ seven picks, Allen acknowledged that most of them likely would be backups and developmental pieces for now. He even went as far to say the draft didn’t fill all of New Orleans’ needs and that the team would circle back in free agency to see what else is out there.
“We’re probably more in the need element than we are in the must element,” Allen said.
In other words, the Saints addressed their “musts” but still have work to do with their needs.
Adding help on the offensive line was a must for the Saints, and they did that by taking first-round tackle Taliese Fuaga. The 6-foot-6 lineman from Oregon State can play either tackle spot and should pencil in as a starter. Whether that’s on the left or the right side likely depends on whether right tackle Ryan Ramczyk can play through his nagging knee injury.
Even then, the Saints still have some question marks up front. Who, for instance, will play left guard now that James Hurst has retired? The Saints have shown no interest in moving Trevor Penning to guard, but perhaps 2023 fourth-rounder Nick Saldiveri or free-agent addition Oli Udoh earns the role. Andrus Peat and Max Garcia also played at the spot last year, though both are unsigned in free agency.
If Ramczyk is unable to play next year, and Fuaga takes his place, left tackle is the biggest need on New Orleans’ roster.
Udoh, signed in March by the Saints, started a handful of games at tackle for the Minnesota Vikings, but he has more experience at guard. Penning also, in theory, could be an option to reclaim his spot at tackle, but he’d have to show substantial improvement.
The Saints haven’t given up hope on Penning, and coaches believe Klint Kubiak’s new offense could be beneficial for the 24-year-old. But Penning became so buried down the depth chart last season that he logged only 13 offensive snaps in the final 11 games.
“He just couldn't stand in front of his man,” The NFL Network’s Brian Baldinger said of Penning. “He didn't have good balance. I think this (new offense) can help him. I think this style can help — the play action, the run action, some of the stuff can help.
"But when it's third-and-13, it's third-and-13. There's no play-action pass for that. He has a long way to go. He has not been good.”
If the Saints want to dip into free agency to sign a left tackle, the choices are less than appealing. Former Green Bay Packers starter David Bakhtiari carries name recognition, but recurring injuries limited him to only 13 games in the last three years. Others such as former Chiefs tackle Donovan Smith and former Commanders tackle Charles Leno are also out there.
The Saints often have dipped back into free agency after the draft — and have a solid track record of adding meaningful additions. Safety Tyrann Mathieu and tight end Foster Moreau, for example, were added to the roster in May. Opposing teams, too, usually make post-draft salary cap cuts, which could provide New Orleans an opportunity to scoop up someone who is not yet available.
The Saints used their seven draft picks on six positions: Tackle, cornerback, quarterback, wide receiver, linebacker and defensive tackle. The spots that New Orleans didn’t address with a draft pick were running back, center, guard, tight end, defensive end, safety, punter and kicker. Of those, guard, tight end and safety may be other needs New Orleans could consider as they examine the market.
In the meantime, Allen and his staff will have to figure out how to incorporate their draft picks. Second-round cornerback Kool-Aid McKinstry was an intriguing selection, but will he earn a starting spot with Marshon Lattimore, Paulson Adebo and Alontae Taylor still on the roster? Allen said the Saints view McKinstry as an outside cornerback who can kick inside. The answer of where McKinstry plays also depends on whether the Saints trade Lattimore in the months ahead.
Fifth-round receiver Bub Means gives New Orleans some more size at wideout with his 6-1 frame. Allen said Means was the type of player he had in mind when he previously told reporters last month that New Orleans needed to add another pass-catcher. Of course, Means will have to earn his spot and the Saints also added a trio of receivers in free agency with Cedrick Wilson, Equanimeous St. Brown and Stanley Morgan.
If Means has to sit, that’s normal for fifth-round picks.
“I felt like we addressed a couple of needs,” Allen said. “Maybe not fully addressed, but addressed a couple of needs in this draft.”
