{"id":114370,"date":"2024-04-22T13:56:50","date_gmt":"2024-04-22T13:56:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/aweu.info\/?p=114370"},"modified":"2024-04-22T13:56:50","modified_gmt":"2024-04-22T13:56:50","slug":"new-orleans-saints-desperate-for-yards-after-catch-threats-at-wide-receiver-can-get-leg-up-in-nfl-draft-tchieu","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mlbhi.aweu.info\/new-orleans-saints-desperate-for-yards-after-catch-threats-at-wide-receiver-can-get-leg-up-in-nfl-draft-tchieu\/","title":{"rendered":"New Orleans Saints Desperate For Yards After Catch Threats at Wide Receiver, Can Get Leg Up In NFL Draft"},"content":{"rendered":"

The New Orleans Saints have talented wide receivers on their roster, but an injection of playmaking, yards after catch ability could taken them to the next level and make quarterback Derek Carr’s job a lot easier.<\/p>\n

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New Orleans Saints Desperate For Yards After Catch Threats at Wide Receiver, Can Get Leg Up In NFL Draft<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

There are a handful of premiere catch-and-run playmakers in this year\u2019s NFL Draft. The New Orleans Saints should be targeting them and planning to land at least one. Beyond All-Pro returner Rashid Shaheed, the Saints lack a yards after catch (YAC) threat at wide receiver. They should be able to address this need if they play their cards right in a stacked draft class.<\/p>\n

With the team\u2019s new offensive system set to be in place, one outstanding curiosity is whether or not they will pursue a Deebo Samuel-esque presence. A positionless weapon that can contribute as a pass-catcher and route-runner from all over the field and who is a threat with the ball in their hands. One that would allow quarterback Derek Carr to get the ball out quickly, leveraging the skill players around him for big plays on manageable connections.<\/p>\n

New offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak spent only one season with the San Francisco 49ers, so how much he takes from that system remains to be seen. But it would be hard to believe that someone that spent any amount of time helping to gameplan for a player like Samuel would not take at least something from it.<\/p>\n

This year\u2019s class provides the talent and opportunity to bring a rookie with the necessary skill set\u00a0 into such a role. Here are three options where the Saints can find an explosive weapon in this year\u2019s draft along with some honorable mentions. Including one from a different position entirely.<\/p>\n

South Carolina WR Xavier Legette<\/h3>\n
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\"SouthDec 30, 2022; Jacksonville, FL, USA; South Carolina Gamecocks wide receiver Xavier Legette (17) runs. Jeremy Reper-USA TODAY Sports<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n

Some experts have said that Legette is better now with the ball in his hands than Samuel was coming out of the same college in 2019. Legette comes in bigger than Samuel and higher on the RAS scale which measures athleticism relative to the history of testing at the player\u2019s position.<\/p>\n

Samuel entered the NFL with a 7.92 RAS\u00a0while\u00a0Legette will carry a whopping 9.88 RAS into draft night. Legette also measures in a shade bigger at 6-foot-1 and 221 pounds, two inches taller and seven pounds heavy than Samuel entering the league. While that does not automatically indicate that Legette will exceed Samuels’ production at the next level (a tough chore), it shows that he has the traits to be special.<\/p>\n

The South Carolina wideout is tough to bring down after the catch because of his build. He averages 6.7 yards after catch per reception per Pro Football Focus. The best in that arena in the Saints\u2019 wide receiver room last year was Lynn Bowden at 5.4 per catch. But among those with more than 30 receptions in the year was Chris Olave at 4.1.<\/p>\n

Legette would provide an immediate boost of physical yards after catch playmaking while also providing the team what it is looking for in a big-bodied reliable receiver in the outside. His ability to move around would allow players like A.T. Perry to continue to develop as an option at X-receiver as well and partners well with the mobility of Olave and Shaheed.<\/p>\n

Projected round: End of Day 1 – Early Round 2. The Saints would likely need to use pick No. 45 to land Legette or must trade up in the second or bottom of the first round to ensure his selection.\u00a0 He is an ideal blend of perimeter receiver and YAC threat\u00a0that has a lot of NFL teams buzzing.<\/p>\n