Draften står for døren, ventetiden er forbi. Det samme er dette års mock draft sæson. Eksperterne har deres final mock drafts klar. Og der syntes at være stor konsensus om, at New Orleans Saints går med en offensiv linjemand.

NFL.coms førende draft ekspert Daniel Jeremiah har Saints til at tage Washington Huskies offensiv tackle Troy Fautanu.

Men flest mener at det bliver Olumuyiwa Fashanu fra Penn State Nittany Lions der bliver valget.

JC Latham og Taliese Fuaga spås også til Saints i de sidste mock drafts før det går løs natten til fredag.

Hvem får ret? Læs eksperternes begrundelser herunder.

Final Mock Draft: Troy Fautanu, OT, Washington Huskies

The Saints have been calling teams to try to trade up, and I assume they want one of the top offensive tackles. I’m not sure how they have the OTs stacked on their board, but I do feel highly confident that New Orleans will be taking a bookend blocker in Round 1.

– Daniel Jeremiah (NFL.com)

Final Mock Draft: Olumuyiwa Fashanu, OT, Penn State Nittany Lions

The Saints need a left tackle, and Fashanu is their guy.

– Charles Davis (NFL.com)

The Saints must upgrade their bookend protection to help Derek Carr flourish as a passer. Fashanu is a work in progress, especially as a run blocker, but his natural talent and tools could help him develop into an elite player down the road.

– Bucky Brooks (NFL.com)

You could argue that the biggest need in the entire first round is the Saints getting an offensive tackle. Trevor Penning hasn’t developed into a surefire starter after New Orleans took him in the first round in 2022, and the Saints are facing an uncertain future with veteran Ryan Ramczyk’s knee injury. Now is the time, in a historically good tackle class, to get a starter of the future. Fashanu is a natural left tackle who allowed one sack in his past two years at Penn State, and I see great power and agility on tape.

– Matt Miller (ESPN)

They need to get a left tackle, and Olu Fashanu is a pure pass protector. He will step in and start right away. You can never go wrong drafting an offensive lineman in a league where there is an issue on a lot of lines.

– Pete Prisco (CBS)

The Saints need to upgrade at left tackle, and while Fashanu’s stock has taken some hits in recent months, I still believe he’s a premier pass-blocking left tackle. You bank on that and hope you can round out his ability in the run game.

– Tom Fornelli (CBS)

Already an elite pass blocker, Olu Fashanu will be able to keep Derek Carr upright from the moment he arrives in New Orleans.

– Kyle Stackpole (CBS)

Saints trader op til 10 med New York Jets.

The Saints and Mickey Loomis have never been afraid to trade up and while I gave serious consideration to the Jets staying put and taking Fashanu here, I talked myself into moving down and continuing to build out the skill positions around Aaron Rodgers (more on that in a moment). For New Orleans, Trevor Penning hasn’t worked out on the left side and it’s not clear if right tackle Ryan Ramczyk will be healthy enough to play in ’24. Fashanu has a chance to be a truly special player in 2-3 years.

– Ryan Wilson (CBS)

Saints trader sig op til 12 med Denver Broncos

New Orleans is one of the franchises that gets a bit antsy on draft night because it does not like waiting to see if its target will be available at its selection. The Saints commonly move up in the draft. A trade up the board allows them to address a gaping void at offensive tackle.

– Josh Edwards (CBS)

Final Mock Draft: Taliese Fuaga, OT, Oregon State Beavers

The Saints are desperate for O-line help, so much so that I keep thinking a trade up might make sense. Fuaga falling into their laps would give them much-needed power and insurance at tackle.

– Eric Edholm (NFL.com)

Ryan Ramcyzk’s future is unclear given his serious knee issues, so bringing in Fuaga to handle bookend duties makes sense. If the veteran is able to go, Fuaga could move inside or get his shot at left tackle, like former Saints starter Andrus Peat.

– Chad Reuter (NFL.com)

Similar to the Raiders, the Saints can go in a lot of directions here. Fuaga played right tackle at Oregon State, making him a good replacement for Ryan Ramczyk as he’s struggled battling back from knee surgery this offseason. 

– Joel Klatt (FOX Sports)

Final Mock Draft: JC Latham, OT, Alabama Crimson Tide

The Saints need a right tackle in the worst way, and this is a ready-to-go blocker with all the power and size you could want at the position in Year 1.

– Chris Trapasso (CBS)