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NFL Mock Drafts will only increase year over year, as everyone does their best to say ‘I told you so’ when teams pick their future stars during the three-day event. ESPN’s Todd McShay, one of those noted draft gurus, has released Mock 1.0, which has the New Orleans Saints taking cornerback Marlon Humphrey of the Alabama Crimson Tide.
Here’s what McShay had to say on Humphrey (Note: full article requires ESPN Insider access).
Marlon Humphrey, CB, Alabama*
At 6-foot-1, 196 pounds, Humphrey has ideal size for the cornerback position. He has 27 games of experience against high-level competition in his career, racking up five interceptions and 12 pass breakups. The Saints need to continue to add pieces to their defense, particularly in the secondary.
For those interested parties, here were some of McShay’s pairings to the Saints in 2016, which included Sheldon Rankins in his final two mocks.
- Mock Draft 1.0 – DT Jarran Reed, Alabama
- Mock Draft 2.0 – DT A’Shawn Robinson, Alabama
- Mock Draft 3.0 – DT A’Shawn Robinson, Alabama
- Mock Draft 4.0 – DT Sheldon Rankins, Louisville
- Mock Draft 5.0 – DT Sheldon Rankins, Louisville
Upon first thought, it’s hard to believe the Saints would use their Top 10 pick on a cornerback when other glaring needs like a pass rusher or linebacker would be a better fit. Alabama’s Rueben Foster went No. 11 overall to the Cardinals, while some interested parties would want to know that LSU’s Leonard Fournette went to the Panthers at No. 7.
With three weeks left in the season for a majority of franchises, there is certain to be a lot of jostling for draft position.