Through the entire NFL draft process, the New Orleans Saints have been connected to quarterbacks. The recent controversy around Derek Carr has only created more conversation around the idea of a quarterback being their first-round pick.
Jaxson Dart and Shedeur Sanders have grown into popular picks for New Orleans in mock drafts, but Pro Football Focus sees Mason Graham as the best fit for the Saints. The Saints need clear help in their trenches, and pairing Graham with Bryan Bresee and Davon Godchaux has the potential to be a really good defensive line.
Bresee is an adept pass rusher, but he has struggled against the run. He's isn't alone either. Run defense is where the Saints notably struggled as a team. It's why Graham is viewed as being able to "help immediately on defense, where New Orleans posted a 28.2 PFF interior run-defense grade, the lowest mark in the past decade."
Godchaux was brought in for his run-stuffing ability, but fixing that glaring hole is more than a one-man job. Adding Graham creates a strong three-man rotation for the variety of defensive fronts. Also, Graham can stop the run and rush the passer, which allows him to complement Bresee or Godchaux.
Prioritizing Graham and the defensive trenches over a quarterback comes down to how the roster is constructed. Pro Football Focus believes the team "isn’t built to develop a young signal-caller, nor is it one piece away from contention."
With that in mind, getting a potentially dominant force on the defensive line would better set up the team for when they do get the quarterback. That could still happen later in the draft or even later in the first round.
