ESPN’s Peter Schrager only did one mock draft this offseason, and he dropped it the day before the NFL draft. This mock draft featured the New Orleans Saints shockingly selecting Mykel Williams over Mason Graham.
If the Saints end up with Williams, it wouldn’t be surprising. They’ve been connected to him and fellow Georgia defender, Jalon Walker. Schrager pairing the Williams with the Saints when Graham is still on the board is the stunner.
It’s also noteworthy that Walter Nolen, not Graham, was the first defensive tackle off the board. Schrager has always marketed his mock draft as what he is hearing, not what he is scouting. You have to wonder what is he hearing?
Graham had shorter arms and weighed less than expected, but it was reported teams were content with those measurements due to deficiencies not showing up on film. Maybe that opinion isn’t universal and he’s falling out of favor with teams at the top of the draft.
If he is on the board when the Saints pick, however, they should draft Graham. He’s been one of the top-5 players players in the draft for most of the process, and would help the Saints massive need in the defensive trenches.
Williams would also fill a position of need. He had a good freshman season, but injuries derailed his last two seasons. He still played but dealt with injuries. It makes the evaluation a little tougher. The Saints need an edge rusher and an interior defender. Positional value would tell you go with the edge rusher, but the best player available method would likely side with Graham over Williams.
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