By Bob Rose | SI
The New Orleans Saints did not have a first or third round picks in this past spring’s NFL draft. The team has done well over the past few years in building their core with players selected on the second and third days of the league’s spring extravaganza, however. Talents like Michael Thomas, Vonn Bell, and Marcus Williams were drafted in the 2nd round. They selected Alvin Kamara and Trey Hendrickson in the 3rd round, David Onyemata in the fourth, with Will Clapp added in the draft’s final round.
These players have been vital contributors to a New Orleans team that has won consecutive NFC South titles and entered 2019 as a prohibitive Super Bowl favorite. The Saints now hold a 7-1 record at this season’s halfway point. As we are about to see, the first year players have played an important role in that success.
New Orleans traded up in the second round to the 48th overall pick to use their first draft selection on center Erik McCoy from Texas A&M. McCoy was immediately penciled in as the starter to replace the offseason retirement of Pro Bowler Max Unger. Despite lofty expectations, McCoy has flourished, anchoring what many consider the best offensive line in the league. Pro Football Focus has graded McCoy as one of the NFL’s top interior linemen through the first part of the year. The 6’4, 314-Lb. center possesses a powerful punch at the point of attack and is a solid technician with good footwork.
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