For the first time in years, the New Orleans Saints lack the luxury to draft the best players available rather than fill high-priority positions of need. While the team won’t deviate too far from their near-perfected draft approach introduced by assistant general manager Jeff Ireland, New Orleans is vulnerable at several spots heading into the draft. Salary cap cuts and free agent losses have hurt them.

This year’s approach will likely follow the assertive — and prudent — selection of players to fill key roles that require immediate starters, like center Erik McCoy in the 2018 draft. Accordingly, this series will profile the top prospects at these positions of need, starting with cornerback. A potential first-round pick that would fill a hole in the secondary is Northwestern’s Greg Newsome Jr.

Measurables and Pro Day Results:

• Height: 6-foot-0

• Weight: 192 pounds

• Arm length: 31 1/8 inches

• Hands: 8 7/8 inches

• 40-yard dash: 4.38 seconds

• Bench press: 18 reps

• Broad jump: 123 inches

• 3-cone drill: 6.90 seconds

• 20-yard shuttle: 4.26 seconds

Via Dane Brugler’s draft guide

Analysis:

Opinions on Newsome focus on the enticing, yet intangible, quality of potential; driven by instinct, his ball skills and competitiveness at the line of scrimmage have impressed scouts. Newsome’s combination of size and athleticism should translate into high play at the NFL level, but there are valid concerns of durability. In his 2020 season with the Wildcats, Newsome started just six games. He’s appeared in just 21 games at the college level in his career.

Newsome made the most of his 387 snaps last season; per Pro Football Focus, he allowed just 12 catches on 34 targets and fewer than 100 yards all season. His raw talent will propel his value as a prospect when surveying an injury-riddled history that never allowed him to play a full collegiate season.

His intelligence stands out as a quality New Orleans looks at keenly. Newsome matches his mental game with natural fluidity and intuitive reads opponents’ routes; his instincts are showcased through split-second decisions in coverage. Despite playing predominately zone defense at Northwestern — a role he excelled in — he’s shown lockdown coverage traits to compete in multiple schemes. As it stands, his value can only be diminished by valid durability concerns.

How he fits the Saints:

The Saints don’t often find themselves drafting for need. With the loss of Janoris Jenkins to the Tennessee Titans, though, the team needs an immediate starter opposite Marshon Lattimore. Their current backups shouldn’t be asked to take on such a big role.

After years of liable secondary coverage that often looked lost in zone, the Saints found a lockdown tandem in Jenkins and Lattimore that secured the strength of the 2020 defense. Lattimore frequently flashed his potential when not weighed down by an inferior counterpart; the Saints will look to continue Lattimore’s upward trajectory and find an optimal replacement for Jenkins.

Newsome has shown the ability to excel in both press man coverage and zone-heavy schemes, and his physicality is enticing. The downside to his aggressive nature is that it’s often flagged for penalties; technique is much easier to teach, and Newsome’s mentality will make up for lack of experience. His physical upside stands out in a year where player evaluation is largely tumultuous; prototype-wise, he fits the mold. As long as the team feels confident in his durability, Newsome is a player the Saints can immediately contend with in Week 1.