2015 Mock Draft : New Orleans Saints select Jordan Phillips, DT, Oklahoma 31st overall

The penultimate pick of the 2015 Big Blue View Community Mock Draft is in!

31) New Orleans Saints *via Seattle Seahawks*

GM - DoctorGiants

Pick - Jordan Phillips, NT (Oklahoma)

Explanation

The Saints' defense was simply awful last year, second to last in the league in yards given up with 384 per game. Although the Saints 13th overall selection in this mock draft of Randy Gregory who will surely contribute, the Saints need a dominant tackle in the middle. With the loss of Tyrunn Walker in free agency and an already big need for run stopping tackles, Phillips is the best player to help the Saints become a dominant defense.

Raptor's View

This is probably the right pick, but I'm not sure about the player. Phillips has tremendous athletic upside, and there just aren't that many guys his size, who can move, walking the Earth. However, he has dealt with a back injury and never seemed to play up to his physical skills.

Maybe his best football is ahead of him and he'll play better another year removed from his injury. Personally, I think I might have gone with Eddie Goldman of FSU. He still has the size to be a rock in the middle of the Saints' front, and the athleticism to play the end as well.

If Phillips works out, this is a solid pick, but there is some definite risk there. Phillips and Gregory could be transformative for that Saints defense if they both reach their potential. Or they could both flame out and be a pair of 1st round busts.

The New England Patriots are officially On The Clock!

The Picks So Far

1. Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Jameis Winston (QB, FSU) - Full Story
2. Tennessee Titans - Marcus Mariota (QB, Oregon) - Full Story
3. Jacksonville Jaguars - Leonard Williams (DL, USC) - Full Story
4. Oakland Raiders - Amari Cooper (WR, Alabama) - Full Story
5. Washington Redskins - Dante Fowler Jr. (DE/OLB, Florida) - Full Story
6. New York Jets - Kevin White (WR, WVU) - Full Story
7. Chicago Bears - Vic Beasley (OLB, Clemson) - Full Story
8. Atlanta Falcons - Alvin "Bud" Dupree  (DE/OLB, Kentucky) - Full Story
9. New York Giants - DeVante Parker (WR, Louisville) - Full Story
10. St. Louis Rams - Brandon Scherff (OL, Iowa) - Full Story
11. Minnesota Vikings - Andrus Peat (OT, Stanford) - Full Story
12. Cleveland Browns - Danny Shelton (DT, Washington) - Full Story
13. New Orleans Saints - Randy Gregory (DE/OLB, Nebraska) - Full Story
14. Miami Dolphins - Trae Waynes (CB, Michigan St.) - Full Story
15. San Francisco 49ers - La'El Collins (OL, LSU) - Full Story
16. Houston Texans - Shane Ray (OLB, Missouri) - Full Story
17. San Diego Chargers - Ereck Flowers (OT, Miami) - Full Story
18. Kansas City Chiefs - Cam Erving (OL, FSU) - Full Story
19. Cleveland Browns - Marcus Peters (CB, Washington) - Full Story
20. Philadelphia Eagles - Landon Collins (S, Alabama) - Full Story
21. Cincinnati Bengals - Malcom Brown (DT, Texas) - Full Story
22. Pittsburgh Steelers - Jalen Collins (CB, LSU) - Full Story
23. Detroit Lions - Todd Gurley (RB, Georgia) - Full Story
24. Arizona Cardinals - Eli Harold (DE/OLB, Virginia) - Full Story
25. Carolina Panthers - DJ Humphries (OT, Florida) - Full Story
26. Baltimore Ravens - Jaelen Strong (WR, Arizona State) - Full Story
27. Dallas Cowboys - Melvin Gordon (RB, Wisconsin) - Full Story
28. Denver Broncos - T.J. Clemmings (OT, Pittsburgh) - Full Story
29. Indianapolis Colts - Arik Armstead (DL, Oregon) - Full Story
30. Green Bay Packers - Benardrick McKinney (ILB, Mississippi State) - Full Story