2017 NFL Mock Draft: First-round projections after Week 11

If you’re the Saints, you can’t go anywhere but the defensive side of the ball with this pick. Many think that New Orleans should start looking toward the future a Drew Brees is getting close to retirement, but as long as he’s one of the elite passers in the league, he’s going to start for the Saints.

Also, the Saints need to address linebacker concerns as well as the secondary. In fact, New Orleans ranks last in the league in terms of passing yards allowed per game this season, with about 300, and that’s further proof that this secondary needs all the help it can get.

Adding Vonn Bell last year was the first step toward a brighter future in the secondary for this organization, but why wouldn’t they want potentially the best cornerback available at this point in the draft? Iowa’s Desmond King won the Jim Thorpe Award a season ago and proved he can be considered the nation’s best cornerback.

King is a lockdown cornerback with incredible ball skills and he is as sticky as defensive backs come. He has decent size and his hips turn very well with the play. He is very quick as well and doesn’t slow down even when he’s turned toward the ball, which is a huge plus.

This kid is the real deal and I think he could be a Pro Bowler in no time.