The Smartest Pick the Saints Made in 2020 NFL Draft
By Emily Adams
The New Orleans Saints didn't give us much to pick from in this draft. They only made four selections: one first-rounder, two third-rounders, and one seventh-rounder. The Saints had a stacked lineup before the draft, of course, but linebacker Zack Baun was definitely their smartest pick of the night.
Baun inexplicably fell all the way to No. 74 overall after most projections had him going in the back half of the second round. He had an incredible 2019 seasons with the Wisconsin Badgers, notching 12.5 sacks, 52 tackles and earning All-American honors.
Outstanding pick for the Saints. I still can't believe Zack Baun even fell to Round 3. He's going to become a fan favorite in New Orleans quickly. https://t.co/w30XmSNerZ
— Chris Rosvoglou (@RosvoglouReport) April 25, 2020
Baun doesn't have the size or power that you might expect from an NFL linebacker, but he's one of the most versatile defensive weapons out there.
At Wisconsin, he played mostly on the edge, but he's also a very capable pass rusher, and the Saints have indicated that they're hoping to play him at middle and strong linebacker.
Zack Baun already making good impression on Saints https://t.co/n9cXGUlGVu via @247sports #Badgers
— Evan Flood (@Evan_Flood) June 14, 2020
Baun is walking on to an already-excellent Saints defense, and having the ability to play all over the defensive line makes him the perfect option for New Orleans to slot him in wherever they want. The Saints saw Baun's sky high potential, and we expect to see them take advantage of it on the field.