2017 NFL mock draft: Evan Engram to New Orleans Saints

We’re down to the final first-round pick in the SB Nation NFL writers’ mock draft with the New Orleans Saints and Canal Street Chronicles finishing off the first 32 picks. Don’t worry, though, we’re not done. As we do every year, the writers’ mock draft is a full two rounds.

The Saints have two first-round picks, and following three consecutive 7-9 seasons, it’s important they find impact starters with both. John Sigler of Canal Street Chronicles found one at No. 32.

Sigler: The Saints did well with their first pick at 11th overall, walking away with the top pass rusher on our board. Now picking again at 32nd overall, it’s time to bolster the offense with someone who can help fill Brandin Cooks’ void.

The best pass-catching tight end in this class is Oxford, Miss. product Evan Engram. Built like a sturdier and more athletic Marques Colston, Engram ran routes and caught deep targets all over college football. He’s mostly played halfback in Ole Miss’ backfield, but Engram looked his best in the slot.

Thanks to Pro Football Focus’ exhaustive charting, we know that Engram led all draft-eligible tight ends in receptions (44) and yards (685) from the slot, as well as catches of 20+ yards (7). PFF also lets us know that Engram ran 357 routes last year and produced 926 yards — a rate of 2.59 yards per routes run, which is again best in the class. For perspective, Miami Hurricanes playmaker David Njoku collected just 698 yards on 298 routes; a rate of 2.34 yards per routes run. Alabama’s O.J. Howard put up 594 yards on 331 routes (1.79 yards per routes run).

The fit for Engram in Sean Payton’s offense is clear. He contributes right away as the big slot receiver like Colston once did, making tough catches over the middle (Engram caught 24 of 34 targets between the hashes per PFF charting) and creating yards after the catch (43.4 percent of Engram’s yards came after catching the ball) with slick movement ability. Engram is more receiver than blocker, but he’s shown an eagerness to engage defenders at Senior Bowl practices that should translate into efficiency with NFL coaching.

So Engram would round out a receiving corps including Michael Thomas, Willie Snead, Ted Ginn Jr, and Brandon Coleman. That’s a great diversity of body types and athletic ability that keep NFL defenses up at night.

Analysis: You can never argue too much with giving Brees another weapon on offense, and Engram is a good player. However, it’s clear that the Saints need to come out of this draft with a cornerback. They’re getting Delvin Breaux and P.J. Williams back from injury, but when they got hurt last season the Saints were in a bind. Considering the number of good cornerbacks available — Tre’Davious White of LSU and Sidney Jones and Kevin King of Washington — that may have been my pick. By the time the Saints come back up at pick No. 42 overall, they may not be around.

At 3 p.m. ET we’ll get the second round started with the Cleveland Browns and Dawgs by Nature making the pick.