New Orleans Saints: 7-Round 2019 mock draft after NFC Championship loss
By Randy Gurzi
Round 2: Irv Smith, Jr, TE, Alabama
After trading their first-round pick in 2019 to the Green Bay Packers for the right to draft Marcus Davenport, the Saints will have to wait until Round 2 to be on the clock — which is where we begin.
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New Orleans used to be a team that did nothing but throw the ball. Now, they’re more balanced thanks to the addition of Alvin Kamara in 2017. With him and Mark Ingram in the same backfield, the Saints are a threat to run the ball down anyone’s throats.
That doesn’t mean they don’t want more passing threats. While a good outside receiver to pair with Michael Thomas is on the wishlist, but it isn’t guaranteed they will go there early in the draft. With the belief that they could bring back Dez Bryant in 2019 — who tore his Achilles before playing a game for New Orleans this season — they look to upgrade the tight end position.
Their selection is Irv Smith, Jr. out of Alabama, who can upgrade their pass threat at the position. As a junior, Smith pulled in 44 receptions for 710 yards and seven touchdowns. He still showed skill in the blocking game, which is a prerequisite to playing the position for ‘Bama.