Saints 3rd Rd Surprise Pick

Part of putting together my final mock and Saints hit list I come up with a few out of the blue surprise type possibilities. No 4th to 6th Rd so kinda limiting this year. Payton/Loomis 7th Rd picks can be absolutely unpredictable. I did put Christian Yount a long snapper from UCLA there this year.

So coming up with 3rd Rd surprises can be a lot harder. That is, coming up with a name that really hasn't registered on the radar yet. I finally found one that looked like a pretty cool fit. Then today he shows up on rotoworld. Since he won't be much of a surprise now, I'll give him as an early offering...

the blurb today-
NFL Network's Mike Mayock does not believe that Abilene Christian WR Edmond Gates will make it out of the draft's second day.
Mayock likens the small-schooler to Mike Wallace for his ability to "take the top off a zone." Adds Mayock, "Somebody’s going to jump on him either late in the second round or early in the third. ... His floor is the third round." Gates goes 6-foot, 192 pounds and ran 4.37 at the Combine, although Mayock pegs him with 4.31 wheels. Gates also has an 11-foot, 2-inch broad jump. Apr 18, 3:13 PM

He's a burner, not only fast but quick too. He could replace Roby AND Devery (even if not immediately). Another ex roundball player that took on football into college.

a lotta video part 1
a lotta video part 2

Scouting report-
Gates is a player who absolutely jumps out at you on tape. With 4.3 time in the 40 yard dash, as well as a 40 inch vertical jump, Gates was far more athletic than most of his competition, and he used that athleticism to consistently make big plays. He has the straight line speed to get behind NFL DBs, and the ability to out jump them as well. Because he has such little experience playing football, he will need to have solid coaching to learn how to harness that athletic ability to be successful at the next level.

The lack of experience is likely what will concern teams most about Gates. Without question he has the athletic ability necessary for the NFL. What he will have to show that he can learn to run NFL quality routes, as opposed to what he did at ACU, which was mostly just running to a spot or just outrunning a CB. However, he is farther along than ACU alum Johnny Knox was when Knox entered the draft in 2009, and Knox has adjusted very well in the NFL. If Gates works at it, it’s likely that he could be an even better pro than Knox.
more to it here