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The NFL draft starts in two weeks, and that sounds like a good time to roll out the second version of our New Orleans Saints beat writer mock draft.

The Saints are armed with eight picks in the 2021 draft and are currently slated to pick at the back end of the first round, at No. 28. Who will be there when the Saints’ turn comes around? We won’t know that until April 29, but we can try to make a guess until that day comes.

We ran through a number of simulated drafts using The Draft Network’s mock draft machine to come up with a pool of players who could potentially be available when the Saints make their selection, and then we asked members of our Saints coverage team to play General Manager for an afternoon.

This time, we added a twist: Who would we select if given the chance to make the second-round pick as well?

Picks 1-27 broke down as:

Jaguars: Trevor Lawrence, QB, Clemson
Jets: Trey Lance, QB, N. Dakota State
49ers: Zach Wilson, QB, BYU
Falcons: Justin Field, QB, Ohio State
Bengals: Penei Sewell, OT, Oregon
Dolphins: Kyle Pitts, TE, Florida
Lions: Ja’Marr Chase, WR, LSU
Panthers: Patrick Surtain II, CB, Alabama
Broncos: Jaycee Horn, CB, South Carolina
Cowboys: Rashawn Slater, OT, Northwestern
Giants: Jaylen Waddle, WR, Alabama
Eagles: DeVonta Smith, WR, Alabama
Chargers: Christian Darrisaw, OT, Virginia Tech
Vikings: Alijah Vera-Tucker, IOL, USC
Patriots: Mac Jones, QB, Alabama
Cardinals: Greg Newsome II, CB, Northwestern
Raiders: Teven Jenkins, OT, Oklahoma State
Dolphins: Jaelen Phillips, EDGE, Miami
Washington: Micah Parsons, LB, Penn State
Bears: Rashod Bateman, WR, Minnesota
Colts: Elijah Moore, WR, Ole Miss
Titans: Trevon Moehrig, S, TCU
Jets: Travis Etienne, RB, Clemson
Steelers: Landon Dickerson, IOL, Alabama
Jaguars: Najee Harris, RB, Alabama
Browns: Christian Barmore, IDK, Alabama
Ravens: Azeez Ojulari, EDGE, Georgia
Saints: …
Here is what we came up with.

ROD WALKER'S PICKS
No. 28: Caleb Farley, CB, Virginia Tech
No. 60: Jabril Cox, LB, LSU
Mock draft 1.0 pick: Greg Newsome, CB, Northwestern

Much like in our first mock draft, I'm going with a cornerback. The one I picked last week (Northwestern's Greg Newsome) was off the board already this time, so I'm going with the next best one available.

The need at cornerback to replace Janoris Jenkins is too big for the Saints to pass up on a talent like Farley.

Farley gives them what they need at the position, a rare blend of size (6-2, 197) and athleticism who can cover and has really good ball skills. He's a guy who can step in and be ready to play right away. So getting this kind of talent this late would be a steal. If it wasn't for concerns about a back injury which he recently had a procedure on, Farley wouldn't even still be around at No. 28. And that's where the Saints will have to make a tough decision. Do you grab the best cornerback out there and fill the immediate need? Or is it the back issue too much of a concern? If that's the thinking, they could trade back and into the second round and nab Florida State's Asante Samuel Jr., the next best cornerback available.

Either way, best guess here is the first player the Saints pick in this draft will be a cornerback. Their second biggest need thought is at linebacker. If there is someone on their draft board that they have ranked high at that position, that may be their choice.

Jabril Cox played one season at LSU after starting his college career at North Dakota State. The transition to tougher competition in the SEC was a smooth one for him. He has size and speed and is excellent in coverage of running backs and tight ends. If not Cox, then Alabama linebacker Dylan Moses.