3 Saints Veterans Fighting for Their Jobs After the Draft

The New Orleans Saints only made four selections in the 2020 NFL Draft, but made the most of them after picking up three potential starters with the No. 24 overall pick and the two third-round picks they acquired.

Mickey Loomis once again finding a way to get "his guys" in the draft has made life tough for these three veterans, who could soon be out of a job or lose significant playing time once the season rolls around given the trajectory of the franchise.

3. LB Kiko Alonso

This one is clearly the most obvious of the bunch. On one hand, the Saints could choose to start Wisconsin linebacker Zack Baun, a super-smart, athletic linebacker with the versatility to line up as an edge rusher who fell into their laps on Day 2. Or they could start Alonso, who suffered yet another serious knee injury and has a considerably lower ceiling. What do you think?

2. TE Jared Cook

Even though Cook is coming off of a Pro Bowl season, he isn't guaranteed much in 2020. Third-round pick Adam Trautman has the TE2 job all but locked up, and many expect him to take the starting role away from Cook if the Saints decide not to retain him when he hits free agency after this season. Cook will almost certainly see a reduced role in 2020, and Trautman will likely be the main man in New Orleans once 2021 rolls around.

1. OG Larry Warford

The amount of offensive linemen who can make the Pro Bowl in three straight seasons yet still go into any given season without being assured a starting role is extremely small, but Warford appears to have fallen into that category. Center Erik McCoy figures to be a long-term fixture at the position, and left guard Andrus Peat just signed a five-year contract to stay in New Orleans. That leaves Warford as the odd man out after the Saints used the No. 24 pick on Michigan's Cesar Ruiz. If the Saints want to trade Warford and start Ruiz, the return in draft picks could be significant.