The New Orleans Saints landed Alontae Taylor in the second round of the 2022 NFL draft but that wasn’t their original target. New Orleans wanted to add a defensive back but had their eyes on Jaquan Brisker. Dennis Allen joined the Chicago Bears this offseason, so Brisker decided to share this story.
Brisker told Casino Beats’ Kyle Odegard: “When we were in the draft, Dennis Allen and I met at the combine and they told me at 49 they were going to take me. They were going to pick me and I was like one pick away. So there was that connection always there.” Chicago ultimately picked Brisker at 48, one spot before prior to the Saints.
The Saints had previously signed Marcus Maye that offseason, but Tyrann Mathieu didn't put pen to paper until after the draft. Brisker suggested the plan was for him to start next to Mathieu, but you have to wonder if the Saints would have signed Mathieu in the first place had they been able to draft Brisker as planned.
New Orleans has been searching for Mathieu's running mate ever since, but drafting Taylor did give New Orleans their future slot cornerback. Seeing what Allen does with the safety in Chicago could be a fascinating what-if for Saints fans.
This article originally appeared on Saints Wire: Bears safety Jaquan Brisker was one pick away from joining the Saints
