New Orleans Saints full 2020 NFL mock draft

The New Orleans Saints will have to wait more than 60 picks for their next selection, and it won’t be easy for them to draft a difference-maker this late into Day 2.

However, the Saints should take the time to focus on the defense if their best-available approach leads them to a player like Mims on offense in round one. And the Saints could use some more help at the linebacker position, specifically a modern-day linebacker with upside.

Jordyn Brooks is an incredibly raw prospect who could fall to the fourth round of the draft, but it’s hard not to get excited about a player with his position. The Saints have been burned by this word before – Stanley Jean-Baptiste at cornerback, for example – but they are in a position, even defensively, where they can take a risk.

At the Combine, Brooks ran a 4.54 40, which wasn’t a surprise given how rangy he is on film. NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein compared Brooks to former Saints starting linebacker A.J. Klein. And that isn’t a bad thing. If the Saints can find a linebacker like Klein in the third round, then they have found a possible replacement for the current Buffalo Bills starter.

Despite his speed and range, Brooks needs a lot of work in coverage, but because of his physical tools, good coaching could turn him into a star on passing downs. As it stands, he does a great job of using his athletic ability, tackling, and underrated strength to make a difference against the run and make clean-up tackles.