I’m inclined to think the Saints would ideally like to leave this draft w/ Bowers

ELLIASJWILLIAMS said
OT and WR are the two obvious choices for additions. There are very few mocks that don’t have us taking either or in the 1st two rounds.

Even Underhill/Trip have listed those two positions as must, and most of their discussions are around the top 3-4 Olineman or the available pass catchers.

I’m not convinced, that either are a preference w/ the 1st pick.

Hunter Renfrow and Andrus Peat are still sitting out there in FA. Coincidentally both could slot right in and give meaningful snaps on offense.

Both, IMHO could beat out any rookie available at 14.

Now, never mind the obvious, Bowers would give you a bit of both worlds. An extra blocker on the line in heavy TE sets and as an obvious Joker type receiver that can move all across the formation.

However, my biggest clue is…the emphasis on the quick passing game. That type of offense is meant to minimize the struggles of an offensive line and cover up holes. IMHO that reduces the emphasis for elite talent on the line and instead puts it on receiving options.

But not just any type of receiving option, they have to be able to get RAC. The best player at RAC in this draft is hands down Bowers.

And he’s 243 LBs so he’ll be durable. Slot DBs will be a tough matchup and he’ll be too agile for LBs.

Yes to all of this. I have warmed up to the idea of getting Olu Fashanu if Bowers is off the board. I really do think Fashanu has high upside at LT as well, but Bowers is a true generational prospect at TE.

ELLIASJWILLIAMS said
Now, he did struggle a bit w/ 50/50 balls and he’s also not an elite prospect. He’s got average arm length, average height, average weight for a TE etc but his super power is he breaks tackles effortlessly. It’s kind of akin to how Kamara just absorbs contact, perhaps you could attribute it to core strength. Whatever it is, it elevates everything else about his game.

Have to disagree a little here, he is arguably one of the best TE prospects ever and has the upside to be one of the best if not best in the NFL. Taking away positional importance, he is arguably a top 3 prospect in this draft class (Caleb Williams and Marvin Harrison Jr are up there with him). There's a narrative that he's a little undersized, but he's basically the exact same size as George Kittle, Sam Laporta, Dalton Kincaid, and Trey Mcbride who are among the top TE's in the league or are expected to be in the coming years. The difference is, Bowers is the best athlete out of all of them. He also has been said to have a 40" vertical, which at 6'3" means he definitely has the skillset to win on 50/50 balls. He's statistically been elite in this category. Here's a great thread below showing the overall dominance Bowers has displayed in several different areas as a prospect.

ELLIASJWILLIAMS said
Yet, w/ the negatives (hardly negatives but the league does lean towards size/weight/speed) he’s likely not going to be considered a top 10 pick.

Conveniently the teams ahead of us have bigger needs than TE, and someone will trade up or reach for a QB outside the top 10, potentially knocking him right to us.

If you hold tight and nab Bowers you can pencil in resigning Peat to play LT(where he’ll stay healthier than his time at LG, less bodies and trash) and have Landon Young and Trevor Penning compete for RT.

You still have Hurst as a backup option at LT and you also have Salidevri as someone who can compete at LG if you are unable to draft someone at that spot (though the should still use a pick on one)

I feel strongly that having Peat/Renfrow on speed dial options makes WR/OT needs/wants. Similar to when we signed Honey Badger sometime after the draft. Word is that year we were interested in getting Jaquan Briskett in 2nd round and he went just before us to the bears.

We called Honey Badger and have been no worse off. This feels very similar

My thoughts as well. Draft is lining up in a way that could slide a premier prospect to us that wouldn't happen in most draft years. I'm not even that hell bent on bringing Renfrow in, but would be happy enough if he were to sign. Definitely would want Peat back though. Also wouldn't mind bringing someone like Dalton Risner in after the draft if he's still unsigned. Would be able to slot Peat and Risner in at LT and LG and have solid enough play this season and potentially next if it's a 2 year deal. This would also free up our 2nd round pick to take BPA as well.