2021 NFL Mock Draft: Bears trade into top 10, Washington Football Team goes offense

The Saints have created some holes on their roster in their attempts to get out of cap hell. Two big ones come on defense. The team needs a defensive tackle to replace the traded Malcolm Brown and they need to add a cornerback to replace Janoris Jenkins.

There are great options at each position available here in Christian Barmore and Greg Newsome. So, which direction will the Saints go? Well, considering that the defensive line class is weaker than the cornerback class and the Saints have a chance to land the best IDL available, they’ll go with Barmore.

During his final season at Alabama, Barmore racked up 37 tackles and a career-high eight sacks. As the year went along, he got better and with a 6-foot-5, 310-pound frame, his potential is sky-high.

However, there have been some concerns raised on behalf of NFL scouts that Barmore isn’t a finished product and that he may have trouble taking to certain coaching styles, as detailed by Bob McGinn of The Athletic. That could devalue him a bit and even send him into the second round if the concerns are well-founded and not the annual smoke that is blown around before the draft on a yearly basis.

That said, Barmore fills a big need for the Saints and could emerge as a starter next to David Onyemata or at least as a key role player. Considering that Barmore could’ve gone with any of the last three picks, the Saints will be happy to nab him and focus on upgrading the other levels of their defense on Day 2.