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Why New Orleans Saints won’t draft Laquon Treadwell at No. 12

By Kevin Parvizi

Jan 1, 2016; New Orleans, LA, USA; Mississippi Rebels wide receiver Laquon Treadwell (1) celebrates his ten-yard touchdown catch against the Oklahoma State Cowboys in the second quarter of the 2016 Sugar Bowl at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Chuck Cook-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 1, 2016; New Orleans, LA, USA; Mississippi Rebels wide receiver Laquon Treadwell (1) celebrates his ten-yard touchdown catch against the Oklahoma State Cowboys in the second quarter of the 2016 Sugar Bowl at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Chuck Cook-USA TODAY Sports /
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Conventional wisdom states that the New Orleans Saints will either draft a defensive player or wide receiver prospect Laquon Treadwell with the 12th overall pick in this year’s draft, and while Treadwell wouldn’t be a poor choice, here’s why the Saints won’t make him their first round pick.

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Laquon Treadwell is one of the top four wide receiver prospects in this year’s class, joining Josh Doctson, Corey Coleman, and Michael Thomas as players worth selecting in the first round. It’s hard to tell exactly where Treadwell will land, but unless if the New Orleans Saints trade down, perhaps with the New York Jets at No. 20, they would have to take him with the 12th overall pick.

Although Treadwell is worth a top-15 pick, drafting him doesn’t make the most sense for the Saints. While they will get better contributions from second-year players, like Stephone Anthony, and bounce-back veterans, such as Keenan Lewis, in 2016, the Saints biggest free agent additions to the NFL’s worst defense were Nick Fairley, James Laurinaitis, and Craig Robertson.

In a deep wide receiver class that features players like Malcolm Mitchell, Kenny Lawler (he was mocked to New Orleans in CBS Sports’s Dane Brugler’s seven-round exercise), Keyarris Garrett, and Charone Peake as potential sleepers, why should New Orleans target Treadwell in the first round? I understand that his physicality, ability to win jump balls, willingness as a run blocker, and crisp intermediate route-running would make him a perfect fit for the Saints offense, I don’t think they will spend a first-round pick on a wide receiver.

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In the 2014 draft, the Saints traded up in the first round to draft Brandin Cooks, and he blossomed last season when healthy. Thanks to Willie Snead‘s emergence as a legitimate, even if not stellar, chain-mover and WR2, Cooks could be unleashed, and he was one of the NFL’s best playmakers in the passing game last year.

Treadwell and Cooks could form an ideal complement, but I think the Saints see things differently. Everyone talks about how Tom Brady elevates the receivers around him and can make something out of nothing, but Drew Brees is arguably better at elevating the players around him. Don’t believe me? Just look at what he’s done for the likes of Ben Watson, Devery Henderson, Robert Meachem, Lance Moore, and, to some extent, Snead.

Dec 27, 2015; New Orleans, LA, USA; New Orleans Saints wide receiver Brandin Cooks (10) gestures after a catch in the second half against the Jacksonville Jaguars at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Chuck Cook-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 27, 2015; New Orleans, LA, USA; New Orleans Saints wide receiver Brandin Cooks (10) gestures after a catch in the second half against the Jacksonville Jaguars at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Chuck Cook-USA TODAY Sports /

The Saints do not need to have two young, former first-round wide receivers on their roster. The best way for this team to make the playoffs is to ride Brees, Cooks, and Mark Ingram as the trio on offense, while bolstering that defense further. Difference-makers are still needed, particularly on the defensive line. Cameron Jordan is a legit DPOY-caliber pass rusher, but is Fairley really the every-down upgrade this team needs? It’s hard to feel enthusiastic about the other pass rushers on this team.

While the Saints could use another wide receiver, they don’t need to go after the best possible upgrade. In fact, I doubt the Saints want to do this, and what’s telling is that Brees would have restructured his current deal for Josh Norman.

That fell through, Norman joined the Washington Redskins, but the takeaway here is that Brees would have taken less money for a cornerback…not a wide receiver. Both he and the Saints know that the future Hall of Fame passer can make things work with his current ensemble of weapons, which was indeed upgraded in free agency.

No, Coby Fleener isn’t the greatest athlete in the world, and he doesn’t have the safest hands either. However, he was their biggest and most expensive signing for a reason; he fits this offense and has upside as a red zone threat and seam-stretcher with a 6’6″ frame and 4.51 wheels. Oh, and the Saints kept Josh Hill in restricted free agency after matching his offer sheet, so it would seem as if they’ve done more to help their offense than their defense this offseason.

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I can see why Brandon Coleman and Snead don’t give fans the most confidence, but the fact of the matter is that the Saints pass-catchers will be good enough in 2016, assuming they draft a Day 2 or 3 wide receiver. But in the first round when it is easiest to pick up an impact pass rusher, someone like Shaq Lawson, Chris Jones, Sheldon Rankins, or even Noah Spence would provide this team with the most help. If there’s one position the Saints can get away with de-emphasizing, then it’s wide receiver.

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