Saints select explosive wide receiver in CBS Sports mock draft

The New Orleans Saints upgrade their wide receiver room with a very mainstream pick in the 2022 NFL Draft: Ohio State’s Garrett Wilson.

By now, the Saints’ position group needs are fairly obvious, and NOLA’s focus has shifted from getting under the cap to finding quality players to boost their roster for next season.

With Michael Thomas returning to the lineup, the Saints may be on the prowl for a complementary wide receiver who can share targets with Thomas. Current wideouts Marquez Callaway and Deonte Harris were serviceable last season, but NOLA will want at least one more just for good measure.

Tom Fornelli of CBS Sports released his 2022 mock draft that’s not too full of surprises: the usual suspects go early, though the Seattle Seahawks trade up to get their quarterback of the future.

For the Saints, Fornelli went with a fairly popular route in selecting Garrett Wilson:

I don’t know who the Saints will have at QB next season, and they may address the position here. If they go a different route, whoever they end up with will be happy to have Wilson to throw to. Wilson accelerates at a ridiculous rate, and he is excellent at making contested catches in traffic. He has some work to do on his footwork and route-running, but he has No. 1 WR potential.

New Orleans Saints pick Ohio State’s Garrett Wilson in recent mock draft

This is not a shocking pick whatsoever, as Garrett Wilson has consistently ranked among the top draft prospects for 2022.

Fornelli adds that the Saints may address the quarterback position instead in the first round, but that of course hinges on whether the team re-signs Jameis Winston. Even then, this year’s quarterback draft class is less promising than years prior, and NOLA may alternatively choose a free agent vet to play under center.

In any case, if the Saints want to go big on a wide receiver early, Garrett Wilson presents a fine choice and plenty of starting-caliber potential. He’s been described as a dynamic and versatile threat who may thrive the most as a slot receiver in a high-volume passing offense — that last part doesn’t exactly describe the Saints, who finished bottom of the league in passing yards in 2021.

Still, Wilson could jumpstart his career by earning a sizeable role in the Saints’ new-look offense for the upcoming season.

If the Saints go after Wilson with pick No. 18, no arguments here.