The New Orleans Saints have a number of holes to fill across their roster, which can be hard to plan for given the nature of the NFL draft. They will need to find suitable options for those holes across different rounds.
Pro Football Focus' Jordan Plochar recently identified both early and late options for each team and their biggest need. For the Saints, it was the interior of the defensive line.
The option given to them for day one was a Michigan Wolverines player, but not the one that has become a popular pick. This time, it was the massive Kenneth Grant. Some might argue that taking him at No. 9 would be a reach, but he could be a solution to their longstanding issue up the middle. That is enough of a reason to consider him at any spot.
Grant was a dominant lineman for the Wolverines these past two seasons. He finished his career with 69 tackles, 12 for a loss with 6.5 sacks. While he isn't known for his pass rush skill, he has flashes of skill there. Most teams aren't asking 6-foot-3, 340-pound linemen to pick up huge sack numbers, though. He would be a fantastic run stopper up the middle, complimenting Bryan Bresee well.
The late-round option was Notre Dame Fighting Irish star Rylie Mills, who is a bit different of a player. Mills is much closer to Bresee, which might make him a bit of a moot point for New Orleans. The fifth-year senior had 7.5 sacks last season, which would be fun for any team to add. On Day 3, it would be fine value for the Saints. They just also need someone who has more prowess in stopping the run. Mills likely wouldn't be their only pickup if they do decide to draft him later in the draft.
This article originally appeared on Saints Wire: 2025 NFL draft: PFF highlights two defensive tackles for Saints
