Saints 2021 Draft Class Poised for Stard

The New Orleans Saints have drafted well in recent years. Since 2016, smart drafting has helped them put together one of the most talented rosters in the NFL.Several of their picks over the last six years have been immediate contributors, but it can also sometimes take a few years before a draft cla s will pay dividends. The Saints hope that this is the case with a 2020 cla s that has underperformed thus far. Such has not been the case with their 2021 selections. This group has already produced two top-tier starters, and that's with their first-round pick mi sing nearly all of last season. Its too early to tell if this draft cla s will compare with the best ones in franchise history.2016 and 2017 produced eight of the league's best players at their positions. The draft cla ses of 2006, 1981, and 1986 produced 13 players in the franchise's Hall of Fame and built the Saints into perennial contenders. The Saints 2021 draftees have gotten off to an equally promising start. Lets have a look at how they performed last season, Earl Weaver Jersey and what their impacts could be in 2022.1st Round (28th overall selection)Turner was a surprise opening round pick out of the University of Houston. After 8.5 sacks and 18 tackles for lo s over his last two collegiate seasons, he vaulted up draft boards with standout performances in scouting evaluations. New Orleans thought highly enough of him that they bypa sed more glaring needs at receiver, cornerback, and linebacker with the selection. Turner was hampered by injuries from the start. He was sidelined for much of training camp and preseason, mi sing valuable reps. Finally getting on the field in week 2 against Carolina, Turner flashed the ability that New Orleans saw when they drafted him. He had a sack, five pre sures, and three tackles for lo s in just 31 snaps against the Panthers. After that strong debut, he played solid football over the next few weeks as a member of a deep edge rotation. Unfortunately, Turner sustained a shoulder injury during a Week 9 lo s to Atlanta. The injury would sideline him for the rest of the year, limiting his rookie campaign to just five games.An athletic wonder at 66 and 270-Lbs., much Jeremy Hellickson Jersey more will be expected from the 24-year-old Turner in his second season. He was able to play both inside and along the edge in college, something that we saw a sample of in 2021. His versatility fits right in with a New Orleans defensive line with excellent depth, talent, and versatility. Po se sing impre sive agility for his size, Turner puts tackles on their heels quickly and has a good explosion off the snap. Once engaged, his upper body strength allows him to seal the edge against the run or push blockers into the pa s pocket. He has explosive speed in pursuit to track down ball carriers and close on the quarterback. His inside spin move can be lethal to pa s blockers.Turners bull-rush ability, along with the athleticism to develop other pa s rush moves, still gives him a tremendous upside. Hell have to compete for snaps against perennial Pro Bowler Cam Jordan, developing star Marcus Davenport, and underrated contributors Tanoh Kpa sagnon and Carl Granderson. Turners development as a run defender is also crucial for additional playing time.2nd Round (60th overall)After a standout career at Ohio State, Werner was selected to fill a New Orleans need at linebacker.The seventh linebacker chosen, Werner flashed the potential of a future Pro Bowl regular. An early season injury to veteran LB Kwon Alexander thrust Werner into a bigger role early on, but he responded with a strong performance. Werner played in 15 of 17 contests and was in on 40% Rio Ruiz Jersey of the defensive snaps. He contributed 62 tackles, including four for lo s, and provided consistent play against both the run and pa s. His performance was impre sive enough that the team didn't re-sign Alexander this offseason. Without Alexander, much more will be expected from the 23-year-old Werner in 2022. The Saints ask a lot from their linebackers, often employing just two in their base alignments. Hell have to improve as a pa s rusher, but otherwise Werner checks off every nece sary box for every down duties.At 63 and 242-Lbs., Werner has the size and strength to hold up against the run. He also has the speed for sideline to sideline pursuit and sifts through blocks effectively to the ball carrier. Werner po se ses excellent awarene s in zone coverage, but also has the fluid athleticism to match up with backs or tight ends man to man.Playing alongside All-Pro LB Demario Davis, Werner has the versatility and football IQ to play either inside or outside. Hell have high expectations after a promising rookie campaign to develop into a consistent playmaker for a New Orleans defense that lacks proven depth at linebacker. 3rd Round (76th overall)New Orleans finally addre sed the cornerback position that many thought theyd do in the opening round by trading up to select Stanford's Adebo in the third round. A first-round talent who opted out of the 2020 collegiate season, Adebo was the tenth corner selected. His play as a rookie would cause several teams to regret bypa sing him.Adebo started every game as a rookie and started his career strong by giving up only one completion Jose Iglesias Jersey on five targets and intercepting a pa s in a season-opening rout of Green Bay.Targeted often opposite shut-down CB Marshon Lattimore, Adebo responded by tying for the team lead with 3 interceptions, breaking up 8 throws, and allowing le s than 62% completion rate when targeted. The 23-year-old Adebo also proved valuable in run support. He recorded 66 tackles, including four for a lo s. Lattimore and Adebo were one of the league's top cornerback tandems for a New Orleans defense that didn't allow a 300-yard pa ser and just one 100-yard receiver over its final nine contests. At 61 and 192-Lb. Adebo is a physical defender with fluid athleticism. His natural coverage skills allow him to lock up wideouts one-on-one, a perfect complement to the elite Lattimore. He also has outstanding awarene s and ball skills in off-ball coverage. Adebo didnt just fill a huge void on the Saints defense last season. His combination of coverage skills, open field tackling ability, and playmaking potential gives him the look of a perennial Pro Bowler. Lattimore, Adebo, and Chauncey Gardner-Johnson have the ability to lock up the league's best receiver units, allowing the defense to be more aggre sive and creative in their schemes. Scroll to Continue4th Round (133rd overall)Book was one of college football's most succe sful winners over his four seasons at Notre Dame. Perceived physical limitations caused him to slip to the fourth round, where the Saints made him the ninth signal caller chosen. Because of a training camp competition between Jameis Winston and Taysom Hill at quarterback, Book's reps Blank Jersey were limited during preseason. The plan was for Book to sit, watch, and learn the offense in 2021. He was inacti