Several Ohio State Buckeyes Could Fit The New Orleans Saints NFL Draft Plans

Given the long relationship between the Saints and Ohio State, there's a chance that one of these Buckeyes land in New Orleans

Credit:© Dan Rainville / USA TODAY NETWORK

Mickey Loomis became the general manager of the New Orleans Saints in 2002. In the 22 years that followed, the Saints have drafted 10 players out of Ohio State. Nine of those 10 Buckeyes were selected in the first, second, or third rounds over that span, a total of 66 picks.

The Saints have drafted 17 Ohio State players over their 57-year history, a number equaled only by Nebraska.

Ohio State doesn't have any blue-chip prospects in this year's draft and aren't expected to provide any first-round picks. However, there are at least a few Buckeye players that will hear their names called anywhere from the second round to early into Day 3.

Here are four players from ''The'' Ohio State University who could end up as the newest New Orleans Saints.

Cade Stover, TE

Ohio State Buckeyes tight end Cade Stover (8) gains extra yardage after a catch against the Penn State Nittany Lions / Credit:© Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK

Recruited as a DE/LB, Stover didn't even switch over to the offensive side for the Buckeyes until 2021. Often overshadowed by Ohio State wideouts Chris Olave, Garrett Wilson, Jaxon Smith-Njigba, and Marvin Harrison Jr., Stover still proved himself to be a reliable pass catcher in clutch situations.

He also possesses prototype size for the position, an increasing rarity for a pass catching tight end.
Stover comes off the line and into his routes with authority. A former basketball player in high school, he attacks the ball with sure hands in traffic and high-points throws with incredible timing.

He's also willing to extend himself for passes and plays physically in high traffic or goal-line situations.

Fast enough to be a matchup problem for LBs down the field, Stover can be a potential threat on all three levels of a defense. After the catch, he'll attack tacklers to power for extra yardage and has a long stride to pull away in the open field.

Ohio State Buckeyes tight end Cade Stover (8) pulls in a reception against the Penn State Nittany Lions / Credit:© Joseph Maiorana-USA TODAY Sports

Still relatively inexperienced at the position, it may take Stover some time to develop in intricate offenses or adjust to NFL coverages. He tends to run his patterns in an upright stance, often causing him to telegraph or round off his breaks. Not a top-tier athlete, he'll need to disguise his routes better for consistent separation.

Stover shows excellent awareness and intelligence on zone blocking plays. However, he's not nearly physical enough as a blocker. This must improve if he has any chance at being a legitimate two-way tight end or earn a starting role.

Cade Stover is projected to be a late Day 2 or early Day 3 selection. He has realistic upside as an in-line tight end that can be a legitimate receiving threat with the frame, agility, and IQ to develop rapidly.

Michael Hall Jr. , DT

Ohio State Buckeyes defensive tackle Michael Hall Jr (51) sacks Notre Dame quarterback Tyler Buchner (12) / Credit:© Kyle Robertson-USA TODAY Sports

Ohio State kept Michael Hall, a four-star recruit from Streetsboro High School, in the same state despite offers from other schools and a 2021 redshirt year. Hall responded with back-to-back 3rd Team All-Big 10 honors in 2022 and 2023, combining for six sacks, 42 pressures, and 10 tackles for loss from his interior spot.

Smaller than the prototype defensive tackle (6'3" & 290-Lbs), Hall makes up for it with outstanding strength, good quickness, and solid leverage. He has an explosive first step to gain quick advantage, but also has good foot quickness and upper body movement to slip past blockers.

Hall sets a strong anchor and has formidable upper body strength. He's also aware enough to recognize creases in the line and agile enough to take advantage. His lateral quickness allows him to make several big plays along the line of scrimmage. An underrated pass rusher with a devastating club move, Hall is far more advanced as a pass rusher than against the run at this stage of his career.

Ohio State Buckeyes defensive tackle Michael Hall Jr (51) records a sack against the Michigan State Spartans / Credit:© Kyle Robertson/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK

Hall was consistently overwhelmed by double-team blocking with the Buckeyes. He may also struggle against bigger and technically sound guards/centers in one-on-one matchups. Too often, Hall was pushed backwards in short yardage situations or against jumbo packages.

Even with his tenacious motor, Hall must do a much better job at shedding blocks or disengaging. He'll need to expand his counter moves to continue his development as a pass rusher.

Michael Hall Jr. will probably be drafted early in Day 3, but could come off the board before the end of the third round if a team loves his fit for their scheme. He has the abilities to upgrade a team's interior pass rush, but must drastically improve his consistency against the run to be an every down player.

Tommy Eichenberg, LB

Ohio State Buckeyes linebacker Tommy Eichenberg (35) / Credit:© Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK

The Buckeyes landed Tommy Eichenberg as a four-star recruit from prestigious St. Ignatius High School in Cleveland. After redshirting his 2020 freshman campaign, he'd fill up the stat sheet for Ohio State over his last three seasons.

Between 2021 and 2023, Eichenberg recorded 21 tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks, two interceptions, and an incredible 151 solo tackles.

A physical player with a throwback playing style, Eichenberg is best as a downhill defender from an inside linebacker spot. He'll plow ferociously through traffic to the ball and is especially disruptive to opposing running games. He's also strong enough to take out lead blockers, freeing his teammates up to make a play.

Eichenberg has rare instincts against the run, often diffusing plays in their infancy. As a tackler, he shows outstanding fundamentals and will energize a defense with bone jarring hits. He shows solid awareness in zone coverage, able to read quarterbacks and intermediate routes effectively.

Ohio State Buckeyes linebacker Tommy Eichenberg (35) stuffs a running play against the Penn State Nittany Lions / Credit:© Kyle Robertson/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK

A limited athlete, at best, Eichenberg can be vulnerable in space. He's a liability in man coverage and can be easily beaten in zones if his reads are even slightly delayed. He doesn't offer much as a blitzer and isn't nearly fast or fluid enough to be effective as a spy against mobile quarterbacks.

Eichenberg has limited sideline-to-sideline range and overall agility. He reads plays well, but can often be beaten to the edge. This limitation often eliminates his effectiveness against running games that attack the edge unless he gambles or cheats to the outside.

Tommy Eichenberg's athletic limitations will likely drive him into Day 3 of the draft. However, his strengths may cause him to be a steal if used properly by the team that selects him. Eichenberg is an excellent downhill defender that causes chaos in the tackle box and will energize an entire unit with his skills as a run defender.

Josh Procter, S

Ohio State Buckeyes defensive back Josh Procter (41) breaks up a pass against the Minnesota Golden Gophers / Credit:© Joseph Maiorana-USA TODAY Sports

Josh Proctor is a rare sixth-year senior, granted one extra year because of Covid and another for a broken leg that caused him to miss most of 2021. His best year for the Buckeyes was last season, when he notched one of his three career interceptions, broke up eight passes, and recorded four tackles for loss.

Versatile, Proctor showed the ability to cover the slot, play in a two-high safety alignment, or drop into the box. He's extremely aggressive, whether responding in coverage support, chasing down a ball carrier, or as a run defender. Proctor breaks down running plays immediately and is often in the middle of the action.

In coverage, Proctor can be extremely physical with man-to-man duties in the slot. He shows strong instincts in off-ball coverage and has outstanding route recognition. His closing burst on a throw is impressive and allows him to break up a lot of deep passes or hold shorter throws to minimal gains.

Ohio State Buckeyes safety Josh Procter (41) makes an open field tackle against the Northwestern Wildcats / Credit:© Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK

Proctor can often be frozen in off-ball coverage. He's clearly more comfortable playing man against the slot or in a deep safety role. His recovery speed is just average, leaving him vulnerable to big plays when in a single-high alignment.

As a tackler, Proctor is far more effective near the line of scrimmage. He's been guilty of poor angles when responding to a play from a distance in the secondary. When in the tackle box, he must learn to shed blocks more effectively to avoid being taken out of the play.

Josh Procter is likely no better than a late Day 3 selection and may not have shown enough to be drafted at all. However, Proctor could be a late-bloomer. He has the coverage versatility and run support skills to stick on a roster and develop, if he can make a mark on special teams.

Out of the six Ohio State players that New Orleans has drafted since 2009, three were defensive backs. Proctor isn't in the same class as Marshon Lattimore, Vonn Bell, or Malcolm Jenkins, but could be a sneaky addition to the roster.

Cade Stover, Michael Hall Jr., Tommy Eichenberg, and Josh Procter may not have the flair of some of the other Buckeyes that ended up as Saints. Given the franchise's successful history with Ohio State, don't be surprised if one of them ends up a Saint.