We're getting closer and closer to draft day, so who might the New Orleans Saints target with any of the nine selections they currently hold? Pre-draft workouts could offer a hint.
Thus far there are six players all across the board that had reportedly visited privately with the Saints.
Keep in mind that this is not a complete list of the prospects visiting the Saints. Each team can have private visit with up to 30 prospects ahead of draft day, though that doesn't apply to scouting events or pro days.
Teams will typically exhaust their scouting opportunities, so the list below is far from exhaustive. These are simply the names we know of players who have been linked to visits with the Saints, but it will help create a pool of players the team is potentially targeting. Last year the Saints were linked to visits with -- among others -- QB Jake Haener, S Jordan Howden and RB Kendre Miller, all of whom they ended up drafting.
Scroll below for the names linked to the Saints thus far.
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CHOP ROBINSON, DE, Penn State
Of the reported pre-draft workouts the Saints have courted thus far, it's mostly mid- to late-round prospects. That makes sense, considering the top-end guys were all likely invited to either the combine or the Senior Bowl and there was plenty of scouting opportunity then. Chop Robinson is an exception, with the Penn State prospect reportedly visiting the Saints earlier this offseason. He's projected to be a first-rounder, but might be a stretch at No. 14. Considering what else would be on the board, the Saints better have done their homework if they go this route.
Chop is a bit small for the Saints' typical profile at 6-3, 254 pounds, but he could be the best bet if this year's team starts to shift that profile to a more athletic build. He ran a 4.48 in the 40-yard dash with a 34.5-inch vertical leap. He also wasn't particularly productive in college, logging just 35 tackles and 6 sacks over three seasons.
Most likely he'd be a candidate if the Saints traded back later in the first or traded up in the second round, should he fall into that range.
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KEON COLEMAN, WR, Florida State
The Florida State standout and Louisiana native was expected to meet with the Saints at some point last month, according to a report from NewOrleans.football.
Keon has had some first-round hype, but more likely he'll be a Day 2 prospect that the Saints might target. The team has intriguing, young players in the WR room, but there's certainly space for more. That need is particularly true when it comes to bigger-bodied WRs beyond A.T. Perry.
At 6-3, 213 pounds, Coleman certainly qualifies for that category. He has the profile to develop in a role similar to Michael Thomas', with the veteran parting ways with the Saints this offsesaon. Coleman won't blow anyone away with speed or athleticism, clocking a 4.61 40-yard dash and 38-inch vertical jump, but he could be an elite contested catch player and create the threat over the middle that this team needs.
Coleman was productive on a pair of impressive Seminoles offenses each of the past two seasons, logging 108 catches for 1,656 yards and 18 touchdowns.
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CHRISTIAN MAHOGANY, OL, Boston College
The Saints could be looking for a deep cut at offensive line, hosting Boston College guard Christian Mahogany on a vist, according to Jared Tokarz of NFL Draft Insider.
Mahogany has upside as a potential backup who could develop over time, and measured in well at 6-3, 314 pounds at the combine. He ran the 40 in a respectable 5.13 seconds and logged a 32.5-inch vertical.
Mahogany is currently projected to be a late Day 2 or early Day 3 selection.
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DYLAN LAUBE, RB, New Hampshire
The Saints reportedly hosted UNH do-it-all back Dylan Laube on a visit last month.
If I could editorialize for a moment, this was one that I was currently thrilled to see. I got a chance to watch Laube at the Senior Bowl and chatted with him after practice. On the field he's got burst and power that you might not expect. He was making plays as a pass-catcher and runner all week.
Off the field he's just as impressive -- and confident. He likened himself to Christian McCaffrey, but graciously accepted my suggestion that Danny Woodhead might make a bit more sense. Laube measured in at 5-10, 206 pounds at the combine, with a 4.54 40-yard dash and a 37-inch vertical.
As a small-school prospect, Laube is likely to be available at some point on Day 3, and wherever he lands I expect him to outperform expectations.
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KHRISTIAN BOYD, DT, Northern Iowa
The Saints were expected to host Northern Iowa DT Kristian Boyd for a visit in March, according to Tom Pelissero of the NFL Network.
Boyd is a bit tougher to gauge as a prospect, as he wasn't at the Senior Bowl or scouting combine. He is from a familiar spot, though, and was former teammates of Trevor Penning at Northern Iowa.
Boyd has an impressive size/athleticism profile at 6-4, 317 pounds, and the Saints certainly wouldn't hate to build on their depth at defensive tackle. They return key rotational pieces in Bryan Bresee, Khalen Saunders and Nathan Shepherd, but will have to replace run-stuffer Malcolm Roach, who signed with the Broncos in free agency.
The Saints could probably land Boyd with a mid-Day 3 selection.
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MARSHAWN KNEELAND, DE, Western Michigan
The Saints were expected to visit with Marshawn Kneeland in March, according to a report from Bleacher Report's Ryan Fowler.
Unlike Boyd, the Saints have plenty of data points on Kneeland, who was at both the Senior Bowl and scouting combine. He stood out at the latter, measuring in at 6-3, 267 pounds and sprinting to a 4.75 in the 40-yard dash. Not unlike Chop Robinson above, he could be an option for the Saints to get a bit more athletic in their defensive end profile.
Kneeland was particularly productive in his fourth and final season with the Chippewas, rolling up 57 tackles, 4.5 sacks and two forced fumbles.
Seeing so much of Kneeland and still wanting more is a pretty telling sign that the interest level is high here for New Orleans. Kneeland could be a target at No. 45, or he could be a player they look at packaging some of their later-round picks and moving up for in the 3rd/early 4th.
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Reminder: This is not an exhaustive list of the Saints' top 30 visits. Teams can have 30 of them, and rest assured they don't leave scouting opportunities on the table. If any additional visits get reported, we'll update the list above (last update, April 10).
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