Mike Triplett, ESPN Staff Writer 8y

Shaq Lawson could fill Saints' biggest need and be best available

Ranking the New Orleans Saints' top draft needs. At No. 1 is defensive end:

Current depth chart:

Cameron Jordan, age 26

Bobby Richardson, age 23

Obum Gwacham, age 25

Phillip Hunt, age 30

Outlook: It’s the great NFL draft question every year: Do teams fill their biggest need or go with the best player available?

There’s a good chance the Saints could do both if Clemson’s Shaq Lawson is on the board at pick No. 12.

Draft analysts are a bit mixed on where Lawson ranks in this year’s class -- sometimes sneaking him into the top 10, sometimes sliding him out of the top 20. He went No. 11 to the Chicago Bears in our NFL Nation mock draft this week.

But there should be no debating that the Saints’ most glaring need is for a defensive end who can help boost their sagging pass rush.

Lawson seems like a great fit, because he is a true 4-3 defensive end at 6-foot-3, 269 pounds. He has the size, strength and run-stopping ability to be an every-down player instead of just a situational pass rusher.

The Saints have struggled for years to find full-time roles for smaller pass rushers who weigh 250 pounds or less -- including last year’s second-round pick Hau'oli Kikaha, who will likely serve as a part-time DE on passing downs.

That’s why I think Lawson might be a better fit than someone like Georgia’s 244-pound edge rusher Leonard Floyd (though there is a ton of buzz around Floyd as a potential top-10 pick).

Lawson had 12.5 sacks last season (three in the Tigers’ two playoff games) and led the country with 25.5 tackles for loss. ESPN draft analyst Todd McShay recently called him a “junkyard dog” and said he loves him the more he watches his tape.

The Saints are set at one of their DE positions with Jordan, a two-time Pro Bowler who is arguably the best player on their defense. But there is plenty of room to upgrade the other DE spot, where Richardson won a starting job last year as an undrafted rookie out of Indiana.

Richardson was solid, and he clearly outperformed expectations. I’ve also heard some good things about the potential of Gwacham, another undrafted rookie. But the Saints still need more dynamic difference-makers on their line,

Lawson’s Clemson teammate Kevin Dodd could be another good fit for the Saints -- especially if they're able to trade down (No. 12 might be too high for Dodd, and the Saints' pick at No. 47 in Round 2 might be too low). Perhaps they’ll consider Oklahoma State's Emmanuel Ogbah, Florida's Jonathan Bullard or BYU’s Bronson Kaufusi on Day 2.

Previous rankings:

No. 13-11 (RB, TE, specialists)

No. 10 Quarterback

No. 9-7 (MLB, OT, S)

No. 6 Wide receiver

No. 5 Cornerback

No. 4 Guard/center

No. 3 Outside linebacker

No. 2 Defensive tackle

^ Back to Top ^