Through the first two weeks of the 2024 NFL season, the New Orleans Saints have been one of the most surprising teams in the league. That’s largely due to just how well the offense has performed under new offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak. Wide receiver Chris Olave has been the best wide receiver in the league through two games at creating separation. Left guard Lucas Patrick and center Erik McCoy have been the highest rated at their positions through two games according to PFF grades.
All this has led to a resurgence for quarterback Derek Carr and running back Alvin Kamara, and a 2-0 record for the Saints. Their offense is firing on all cylinders, and their defense is keeping teams out of the endzone enough to give them two impressive wins to start the season. Everything is going right for the Saints right now, but it’s never too early to look to the future and what the 2025 NFL Draft may have in store.
CBS Sports’ NFL Draft analyst Josh Edwards has the Saints taking Texas A&M edge rusher Nic Scourton with the 20th pick in the first round. Scourton has incredible size for the position, coming in at 6’4” and 285 pounds, and “is an ideal candidate as the Saints look to the future”, writes Edwards.
The Saints defense has been one of the best in the league through two games at getting to opposing quarterbacks. They have seven sacks on the season, which has them tied for third in the league. That said, the sack production for the Saints isn’t primarily coming from the guys up front. Their individual sack leader is actually cornerback Alontae Taylor, who has three sacks on the season.
That, combined with the fact that defensive end Chase Young is slated to be a free agent after the season makes edge rusher an obvious area of need for the Saints moving forward. They could choose to address that need through free agency at some point during the season – and a lack of production may force their hand – but grabbing Scourton in the NFL Draft would give them a great, young, long-term option at the position who should be able to win at the next level with his size and powerful frame.
