New Orleans Saints hosted standout Tennessee defensive tackle for a private workout

The New Orleans Saints are pushing their pre-draft preparation right up until the final minutes, as they continue to meet with prospects throughout the past few days in hopes of learning just a little bit more about each player. This has led them right up to Day 1 of the 2025 NFL draft, where they are in desperate need of some quality selections, giving new head coach Kellen Moore a young core to build around.

One of the more recent prospects that they have met with is Tennessee defensive tackle Elijah Simmons, a monster nose tackle with some positive athletic traits to go along with his solid run defense. In a recent interview with Justin Melo of The Draft Network, Simmons went on to say the following in regards to how teams view him, and who he has met with:

"I met with roughly every team at the NFL Combine. The feedback has been consistent. I asked teams what they would specifically want from me at the next level. I kept hearing nose guard, three-technique, 2i. They want me to be stout and stop the run and push the pocket as a pass rusher. They want me to be physical at the point of attack. I have great hands and I play with great leverage. They want me to get after guards on different levels while upholding my gap and being strong at the point."

"I’ve been getting very consistent feedback. I had a private workout with the New Orleans Saints. I was on a virtual call with the San Francisco 49ers. They told me the same thing. We went over some film together. Those are the two meetings that stood out to me as showing a lot of interest. I also met with the Lions and Falcons."

Simmons flashed some positive athletic traits during the spring, and despite a low 3.47 Relative Athletic Score by Kent Lee Platte, there is more than meets the eye here. He posted a 32-inch vertical jump and an 8-foot-1 broad jump, both of which are enormously impressive given his 6-foot-1, 334-pound stature.

His statistical production over six years is reflective of a nose tackle, with 59 total tackles, 8 tackles for loss, 0.5 sacks, and 3 pass deflections. But his run defense is the most notable part of his game, and his ability to take on double teams is extremely impressive. With a 63.8 run defense grade by PFF, and some quality flashes on film, Simmons has what it takes to be an NFL-caliber player, and given the shot in Day 3 or as an undrafted free agent, he could be a quality rotational piece for the Saints.

This article originally appeared on Saints Wire: Saints continue pre-draft work by meeting with Tennessee DL prospect