There's no debate over whether Boise State star Ashton Jeanty is a top 10-caliber player, but should a top 10 team -- complete with top 10 problems -- be in on a running back that early in the draft?
If you ask WWL Radio's Deuce McAllister, the answer is no. That's particularly true if we're talking about the New Orleans Saints, as Deuce explained on SportsTalk this week.
"I think he’s a phenomenal player. I think he will do really, really well in the NFL, but me personally on how the league and how the game is being played, I’m not making that move," Deuce said.
Hear the full breakdown from Deuce McAllister in the player above. Can't see the embed? Click here.
"I think the young man has the potential to be an All-Pro player and maybe even a Pro Bowl player," Deuce continues, "but if I’m picking that high, why am I picking that high? ... I probably have multiple holes. Is a running back going to hide or change that much?"
It's the type of debate that will be had in war rooms across the NFL in a few weeks when the draft kicks off on April 24. The Saints are certainly in need of running back depth, but that could be said of several positions. There are obvious connections, with new head coach Kellen Moore a Boise State legend. The Saints sent RBs coach Joel Thomas to BSU's pro day last month, and the pair had a dinner during the visit.
Every team should have interest, the question is how much interest. The Saints are far more likely to strike later in the draft to bring in one of a host of intriguing prospects, albeit at a lesser level than Jeanty. Deuce said he's intrigued by both Ohio State prospects in Quinshon Judkins and Treveyon Henderson, along with North Carolina's Omarion Hampton and Arizona State's Cam Skattebo.
"I can find somebody that may be similar, but maybe not as physical," Deuce said, "so there’s no knock against Jeanty being taken, but I wouldn’t even talk about the Saints doing it."
The Saints own nine total picks in the upcoming draft, including four picks in the top 100 (9, 40, 71 and 93). The last two running backs drafted by the Saints on Day 2 or earlier were Alvin Kamara in 2017, then Kendre Miller in 2023, both picked in the third round.
More from Deuce
On drafting a CB early
“I know that you wanted to bring back Paulson, but the numbers were gonna have to work for both sides and even before the injury that was gonna be a stretch, just because you saw what some of the other guys were getting and, look, you know, you’re proud for him," Deuce said. "He got paid and hopefully he bounces back, but it won’t be here and so that’s another position where, hey, top 100 I’ve got to come away with a guy that can help me. I’ve got to be able to come away with a guy that maybe he’s not a Day 1 starter, but he’s a guy that I can pencil in to be able to use him in certain situations.
"I also wouldn’t be surprised for them as well to be able to look at that veteran corner market to say, hey, you know, we didn’t pick, necessarily, enough guys. Are you interested? Or even to be able to make a trade, and it may be for a future pick as far as a corner is concerned. But I think you need to be able to add, not only some young talent, but some vets in that room just to make sure that you’re protected from that corner position, inside and out.”
How about TE Tyler Warren at No. 9
“I would probably lean heavy that way, just because when you look at, hey, my OC, my head coach loves 12 personnel. Well, not to say that we don’t have 12 personnel, we do, but you’ve still got to get younger. You still need to add a little more explosion to that room. ... If I’m gonna live out of 12 personnel, I’ve got to feel good about the options that I’m putting out on the field and so you know that you need to get a little younger at that position and if I can get a guy that’s a playmaker, a young playmaker, to be able to help me offensively, then I think that takes some pressure off of some other spots.”
