New Orleans Saints 2020 NFL Draft first-round targets

Starting WRs: Michael Thomas, Ted Ginn, Tre’Quan Smith

Outside of possibly the best wide receiver in football, New Orleans sports a sparse collection of receiving weapons for Drew Brees. Ted Ginn continues to provide a deep threat with his never-aging speed but lacks the consistency to do much else, and Jared Cook is a serviceable but not exemplary tight end. Tre’Quan Smith has had two promising seasons in the NFL to this point but still needs his breakout year to be considered a truly dangerous receiving threat.

At only 6-foot 190 pounds, Henry Ruggs III would provide an excellent complement to Michael Thomas’ perfected route-running and ability to get open. Ruggs is an unquestioned 4.3 burner who could get into the 4.2’s with a good combine performance.

Outside of Ginn, the New Orleans Saints lack true game-breaking speed on the outside to stretch the field and threaten safeties deep. Drew Brees is still fully capable of getting the ball downfield with his aging arm, but Ruggs has also shown playmaking ability in open space at Alabama off of screens and short crossing routes.

The 2020 NFL draft has one of the deepest wide receiver classes in recent memory, so taking a receiver in the first round is not necessarily a need for New Orleans when other positions present bigger voids. Players such as Van Jefferson and Denzel Mims showcased their talents with excellent Senior Bowl performances, but do not have the same type of dynamic athleticism Ruggs could provide.