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2018 NFL Mock Draft: Sam Darnold, Josh Rosen top first round

By Brad Weiss

PASADENA, CA - NOVEMBER 19: USC (14) Sam Darnold (QB) passes the ball during an NCAA football game between the USC Trojans and the UCLA Bruins on November 19, 2016, at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, CA. USC defeated UCLA 36-14. (Photo by Chris Williams/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
PASADENA, CA - NOVEMBER 19: USC (14) Sam Darnold (QB) passes the ball during an NCAA football game between the USC Trojans and the UCLA Bruins on November 19, 2016, at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, CA. USC defeated UCLA 36-14. (Photo by Chris Williams/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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CHESTNUT HILL, MA – SEPTEMBER 24: Boston College Eagles defensive end Harold Landry (7) gets to Wagner Seahawks quarterback Alex Thomson (19) for a sack during the third quarter at Alumni Stadium in Chestnut Hill, Mass., on Sept. 24, 2016.
CHESTNUT HILL, MA – SEPTEMBER 24: Boston College Eagles defensive end Harold Landry (7) gets to Wagner Seahawks quarterback Alex Thomson (19) for a sack during the third quarter at Alumni Stadium in Chestnut Hill, Mass., on Sept. 24, 2016. /
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Harold Landry

Defensive End, Boston College

The New Orleans Saints play in one of the toughest divisions in all of football, as it has produced the NFC champion the last two seasons. While the Saints have not been a .500 team for a couple years now, they do have some solid talent up and down their roster. In addition, they have a Hall of Fame quarterback in Drew Brees, who is always going to keep them in games.

For the Saints, the issues has never really been their offense. It seems like Brees throws for over 5,000 yards every season, and running back Mark Ingram has been solid since the team drafted him in the first round back in 2011. Brees has the talent to make his receivers better, and we saw it last season with rookie Mike Thomas.

The issue for this organization is on the defensive side of the ball, and that is where they should look to draft in 2018. Cameron Jordan is a very good defensive end, but the team could use some depth at the position. If they spend their 2018 first-round pick on a guy like Harold Landry from Boston College, they should finally be able to get some pressure on the opposing quarterbacks on a more consistent basis.

The NFC South is loaded with talented quarterbacks, and being able to get after guys like Matt Ryan, Cam Newton, and Jameis Winston is only going to help the Saints become relevant again. It is hard to believe that this franchise has not won more than seven games the last three seasons, and head coach Sean Payton may be on the way out. Landry can be a difference maker at the next level, and the Saints need his kind of motor on their defensive line.

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