The New Orleans Saints are busy with the 2025 NFL Draft right now. They're visiting prospects, checking out Pro Days, and trying to learn everything about where certain prospects will be selected.
The Saints have never shied away from risky, but physically gifted, prospects. One of those players whose stock has skyrocketed is Nick Emmanwori.
Saints visit with safety Nick Emmanwori
According to Nick Underhill, the Saints visited with South Carolina safety Nick Emmanwori on Thursday.
As Underhill notes, Emmanwori has some really intriguing upside. He's an unbelievable athlete that dominated at the NFL Scouting Combine.
For New Orleans, I do not see taking a safety in the first round as the smartest route. Emmanwori often goes somewhere between pick fifteen and the end of round one. It's unlikely that he will make it to the Saints' second round pick at 40th overall.
Emmanwori doesn't have the name recognition of a player like Starks, nor he is as complete a player, but he's pretty close and more than worthy of a safety #1 ranking in most draft classes.
Expected to run a blistering 40 at over 6-3 and close to 230 listed pounds, Emmanwori is built like a modern LB but has the range and versatility of a nickel defender. His frame and athletic profile will intrigue any team looking for an enforcer yet centerfielder at safety, as long as he can clean up some technical deficiencies. -- Rob Gregson
Usually, I am a proponent of taking best player available early in the draft. Simply, draft good football players - rather than forcing a prospect into selection due to need. That normally does not work nearly as well in the long run.
That being said, the Saints just signed Justin Reid at safety, who has been one of the better veteran safeties in football in recent years. They've still got Tyrann Mathieu, albeit possibly getting toward the end of his career.
I think New Orleans can pair talent and need a little more fittingly with their early picks if they look elsewhere. Think they need help at cornerback, offensive line, defensive line, and pass catcher moreso than another safety with potential.
