Five of the New Orleans Saints’ last six top picks in the NFL draft have been spent on trench players along the offensive or defensive line, and it’s very possible that trend continues in 2021. So keep an eye on North Carolina State defensive tackle Alim McNeill, a legitimate prospect the team could target with the 28th overall pick in this year’s draft.
The Draft Network’s Justin Melo reported that McNeill has a busy schedule: he’s already spoken with the Green Bay Packers, New York Jets, Seattle Seahawks, Jacksonville Jaguars, and Indianapolis Colts, and he has a meeting coming up with the Saints as well.
Listed at 6-foot-2 and 320 pounds, McNeill is someone the Saints may have an inside track on given defensive line coach Ryan Nielsen’s history with the Wolfpack (where he coached the same position group before making the jump to the NFL). But Nielsen left N.C. State before McNeill ever arrived on campus, so it makes sense for New Orleans to give him a call.
He’s certainly earned it. McNeill has been credited with 17.5 tackles for loss in 32 college games, anchoring the defensive line as a disruptive presence in the middle. He’s also a tremendous athlete for someone his size, which was most obviously on display on his 18-yard interception return for a touchdown. But you also get an idea for it on his high school resume, where McNeill played linebacker and running back while earning all-conference recognition as a right fielder on the baseball team — batting .335 as a senior.
If the Saints lose Sheldon Rankins in free agency (as is likely) and choose to release Malcom Brown as a salary cap casualty (which is possible), they’ll look suddenly-thin at defensive tackle with only David Onyemata and Shy Tuttle bringing much NFL experience. Adding someone like McNeill early as a Vita Vea-style run stopper with room to grow as a pass rusher makes sense.
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