NFL Draft: Saints Shake Things Up With Travis Etienne Signing

The New Orleans Saints shocked many when they made a massive splash on the first day of free agency...securing their backfield early. Adding Travis Etienne to the roster, and bringing the Louisiana native back home. While this feels like a solid move by the Saints, it also completely changes experts' opinions on the entire strategy for the upcoming NFL Draft.

This aggressive move signals a major shift in how the front office plans to utilize their premium draft capital.

No Love For New Orleans?

For months, experts heavily projected Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love to land in New Orleans at pick #8. That scenario seems to be completely off the table now that the organization committed early money to a veteran back. Fans and writers feel like the focus has pivoted away from the offensive backfield toward other glaring roster holes. But honestly if they were going to swing on a name like Etienne, they were probably never looking at a running back at the 8th pick.

So what will the Saints look to fix with a top 10 pick?

Filling the Linebacker Void in New Orleans

Losing veteran linebacker Demario Davis to the New York Jets has created a massive crater in the middle of the defense...forcing a major shift in priorities. Analysts are quickly pivoting their mock draft predictions to address this new glaring weakness. The defense desperately needs an immediate impact player to step into that leadership role.

Ohio State linebacker Sonny Styles is rapidly emerging as the consensus favorite for the Saints in the first round...bringing incredible physical traits. His elite explosiveness makes him the ideal replacement to plug the massive gap left by Davis. Several mock drafts now confidently project the athletic defender to hear his name called at number eight overall.

Saints Looking at Day Two Targets

The front office still needs to find a reliable secondary receiving target to line up opposite of Chris Olave...making the position a high priority. Wide receiver remains a critical need heading into the draft. Securing a complementary pass catcher is absolutely essential for the offense to function effectively, but are the Saints really prepared to spend a top 10 pick on a pass catcher?

That probably won't happen. But if they trade back, or hold tight, they can start using later picks on the position group.

Tennessee receiver Chris Brazzell II is heavily linked to the Saints at pick #42 (Second Round). He brings a large frame and high-level red zone ability that the current roster desperately needs right now. If he is the specific target the Saints want, and a run starts on receivers, it wouldn't be too shocking to see the Saints pile some late round capital together with their Second Round pick to flip into the late First Round to make the pick.

But if they can't get their hands on Brazzell at the price they like, watch for a different Notre Dame player (besides Love) ending up in New Orleans. Wide receiver Malachi Fields might not be the flashiest name on mock drafts, but he has the size and explosive athleticism that fits what the Saints want.

Upgrading the receiving corps with a big-bodied weapon appears to be the most logical move for the second day of the draft. Especially with the Saints putting the whole NFL on notice with last year's rookie sensation Tyler Shough blowing up the second half of the schedule last year.