The New Orleans Saints are finalizing their information ahead of the 2025 NFL draft, which begins on Thursday, April 24, and goes until Saturday, April 26. This event will give the team a chance to really build their young core outward and set the baseline of talent for years to come under new head coach Kellen Moore. It is extremely important that they get things right this year, given the rapid depletion of talent across the roster, so they continue to gather intel right up until the draft.
One of the players they recently met with was Maryland defensive lineman Tommy Akingbesote, who has shown flashes of talent in recent seasons, and in 2024, improved rather rapidly compared to previous years. He would sit down with Justin Melo of The Draft Network to discuss the pre-draft process and which teams he has met with so far:
“Between the East-West Shrine Bowl and NFL Combine, I met with all 32 teams. I’ve met with a lot more teams since my Pro Day as well. I feel great about this process. I talked to the Saints, Cowboys, Giants, and Bills recently.”
Athletically, Akingbesote is a solid player, with a 6.55 Relative Athletic Score from Kent Lee Platte, including strong composite size grades, but ultimately around average or below average explosion, speed, and agility grades. At 6-foot-3 and 306 pounds, it makes sense that he focuses more on raw power than distinct points of athleticism, and that shows in his play style.
In 2024, he would have an impressive season overall, accruing 32 total tackles (16 solo, 16 assisted), 14 hurries, 5 tackles for loss, a sack, and a forced fumble with a recovery. He showed some versatility as well, with 329 snaps in the B-gap, 210 snaps over the tackle, and 7 snaps outside the tackle. The prior two showed he would likely be able to adjust to the life of Brandon Staley’s 3-4 defense.
As a likely Day 3 pick or undrafted free agent, Akingbestoe could be a great pickup for the Saints late on Saturday as they look to add to the interior defensive line group.
This article originally appeared on Saints Wire: Saints meet with rapidly improving Maryland defensive line prospect