The New Orleans Saints drafted Pittsburgh WR Bub Means with the 170th overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft.
With the 170th pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, the New Orleans Saints select WR Bub Means
#SaintsDraft | @CoxComm pic.twitter.com/vxB9xy2yST
— New Orleans Saints (@Saints) April 27, 2024
The Saints have a good pair of speed receivers with Chris Olave and Rashid Shaheed but continue looking to replace veteran Michael Thomas’ presence with a receiver who could make the heavily contested targets. New Orleans drafted 6’5 wide receiver A.T. Perry in the seventh round of last year’s draft but continues to look for playmakers and depth at the position.
Bub Means: 11 contested catches in 2023, tied for the second most in the ACC 💥 pic.twitter.com/mGCmjSUf9f
— PFF NO Saints (@PFF_Saints) April 27, 2024
Means is 6’1 and weighed in at 212 pounds at the NFL combine while also running a 4.43 in the 40-yard dash.
The versatile receiver possesses many levels in his game and can contribute as a receiver in multiple ways. He is a speedy guy who can outright beat a defense deep, or he could beat the defense on short targets with his run-after-the-catch ability. The Saints have been searching for a target to catch the ball over the middle of the field and do more after the reception. Means has an above-average ability to gain yards after the catch and he uses more than just speed to do so.
The Saints lacked depth at the receiver position when free agency began and quickly added players to their receiver room, although mostly on one-year deals. Means has to work on his separation skills and blocking before he earns significant playing time, but the talent is there, and he has a real shot of developing into a starter.
