The New Orleans Saints need to improve in the trenches. Free agency was kind to them with a few notable moves, like trading for Davon Godchaux, bringing back Chase Young, and signing Dillon Radunz.
Regardless, continuing to build up their offensive and defensive line will assuredly be on Kellen Moore's radar in his first NFL Draft as a head coach.
Armand Membou may be perfect pick for Saints
The Missouri offensive tackle is widely projected to go in the top fifteen picks, and New Orleans is a potential landing spot for him. Matt Bowen of ESPN selected the Saints/Membou pairing as one of his favorite fits for top prospects in the class.
OT Armand Membou to the Saints
Where New Orleans could get him: Pick No. 9
The Saints could go multiple directions with this pick, but I like the idea of new coach Kellen Moore adding Membou to pair him with 2024 first-rounder Taliese Fuaga. That would give the team two bookend tackles of the future. I see Membou playing at the right tackle spot, where he can use his lower-body balance and foot quickness to handle speed in pass pro, while still displacing defenders in the run game. Moore saw the value of winning the edges in Philadelphia last season, and he could build up front in New Orleans. -- Matt Bowen, ESPN
There's a contingency in the Saints fan base who would be irate with another offensive line selection in round one. New Orleans has thrown early darts on their OL often over the past handful of years. They picked Taliese Fuaga with their first-round pick last year.
Trevor Penning costed them a first-rounder and a trade up, in a move that has not quite worked out so far. Cesar Ruiz was a first-round selection on the inside of the OL late in the Sean Payton era in New Orleans. Starting center Erik McCoy was a second-round pick at 44th overall, still early capital for New Orleans there.
Within their fandom, it seems like they're just burnt out with OL picks early in the draft, regardless of how they work out.
The fit and need are clear
For New Orleans, though, there's a legitimate chance that Membou is the best player available by the time the ninth overall pick rolls around for the Saints. Not to mention, that choice could slide Trevor Penning to a backup role or possibly a guard spot.
Membou is an explosive athlete with tremendous gifts. He springs out of his stance with very good quickness and has the agility and twitch to reach and seal defenders on playside and backside of runs with ease. Membou plays in control throughout the entire rep with very good body control. When climbing in space, he demonstrated very good change of direction ability and body control to adjust and nail defenders at the second and third level of runs. In pass protection, Membou showed very good natural fluidity to match rushers around the arc. -- AJ Schulte
Taking the former Mizzou lineman would solidify a young offensive tackle duo for Kellen Moore, who saw elite OL play and development last year with the Eagles.
If Moore is comfortable enough with Membou to take him in round one, the fans of the Saints should trust him.
