#10 – 2023
Bryan Bresee (1st Round) | Isaiah Foskey (2nd Round) | Kendre Miller (3rd Round) | Nick Saldiveri (4th Round) | Jake Haener (4th Round) | Jordan Howden (5th Round) | A.T. Perry (6th Round)
The Saints picked 29th overall in 2023 despite coming off a 7-9 season. They would have had the 10th overall pick had they not traded it the year before, and could have used it on a player like Jahmyr Gibbs, Christian Gonzalez, or Jaxon Smith-Njigba. They acquired pick #29 from the Denver Broncos in exchange for the rights
to Sean Payton, and used it to draft Clemson DT Bryan Bresee who has been a decent player, but has yet to break out and who arguably took a step back last season. The second round pick of pass rusher Isaiah Foskey was a complete disaster. Foskey was drafted with the 40th overall pick and lasted just two years in New Orleans before being waived without recording a single sack. Kendre Miller has struggled to stay healthy and was also drafted just a few picks before the Dolphins drafted De’Von Achane who has proven to be one of the most productive backs in the league. Nick Saldiveri is nothing more than a backup, Jake Haener was drafted way too early, and A.T. Perry had a few good games at the end of the 2023 season but was waived the following year. Jordan Howden somewhat salvaged the late rounds of this draft however, as he has proven to be pretty good value for a 5th round pick. He has played in all but two games since being drafted, had two interceptions in 2024 and had an 86-yard scoop and score last year. Ultimately the Saints got nothing more than an average starter at DT and a rotational player at Safety in this draft, and a complete whiff with the 40th overall pick and making the wrong pick at running back cements this as the worst Saints draft in recent memory.
#9 – 2018
Marcus Davenport (1st Round) | Tre’Quan Smith (3rd Round) | Rick Leonard (4th Round) | Natrell Jamerson (5th Round) | Kamrin Moore (6th Round) | Boston Scott (6th Round) | Will Clapp (7th Round)
The Saints traded up in the first round to select UTSA DE Marcus Davenport with the 14th overall pick. In order to do so they traded two first round picks for a player most saw as a project, and who ultimately turned out to be a disappointment. Davenport struggled with injuries and right when it looked like he finally got going with a 9-sack season in 2021 he immediately regressed in 2022 with just 0.5 sacks, and was not re-signed to a second contract. Davenport was not the worst player the Saints took in the first round in the last 10 years, but this draft suffers since he was a top-15 pick and the team traded a first rounder to get him. Tre’Quan Smith was a solid receiver for a 3rd rounder but was never anything more than a WR3, and after these first two picks the Saints got virtually no production from anyone else in this draft. Boston Scott proved to be a decent player but spent his career with the Eagles after being claimed off the Saints’ practice squad, and Will Clapp had an eight-year career as a backup before eventually joining the Saints coaching staff this offseason.
#8 – 2021
Payton Turner (1st Round) | Pete Werner (2nd Round) | Paulson Adebo (3rd Round) | Ian Book (4th Round) | Landon Young (6th Round) | Kawaan Baker (7th Round)
Payton Turner is easily the worst first round pick the Saints have made in recent memory, and if it wasn’t for them drafting a kicker in the first round over Joe Montana it probably would be the worst in team history. Turner was incapable of staying healthy and appeared in just 31 games in four years. When he was healthy, he was barely noticeable, finishing his career with the Saints with just 5 sacks. To make it worse he was drafted just a few picks away from pass rushers Gregory Rousseau and Odafe Oweh, both of whom have 30+ sacks in their careers. The draft was salvaged somewhat by Pete Werner and Paulson Adebo, both of whom proved to be solid starters. The Saints also drafted Landon Young in the 6th round who managed to stick around as a versatile backup on the offensive line, but got no production anywhere else in this draft. The Saints did find two decent starters in this draft, but the first-round pick of Payton Turner was such a disaster that it drags the whole draft down.
#7 – 2020
Cesar Ruiz (1st Round) | Zack Baun (3rd Round) | Adam Trautman (3rd Round) | Tommy Stevens (7th Round)
Cesar Ruiz was drafted to strengthen the Saints offensive line in the post-Drew Brees era, but so far has been nothing more than an average player. He has stuck around as the Saints starting guard for his whole career, and has the ability to slide in at Center when needed, but has not been anything better than serviceable for his whole career. The best player the Saints took in this draft they gave up on too early, as Zack Baun would go on to become an All-Pro with the Eagles after the Saints didn’t sign him to a second contract. Adam Trautman was a good blocking tight end but never really showed much as a pass catcher and was traded after two years. This draft would have been pretty good if they had known what Baun would become, but with just four picks all they were able to get was an average but versatile offensive lineman.
#6 – 2024
Taliese Fuaga (1st Round) | Kool-Aid McKinstry (2nd Round) | Spencer Rattler (5th Round) | Bub Means (5th Round) | Jaylan Ford (5th Round) | Khristian Boyd (6th Round) | Josiah Ezirim (7th Round)
We now move out of the territory of bad drafts to drafts that the Saints managed to find quality players. Taliese Fuaga has had a great start to his career, and Kool-Aid McKinstry has shown flashes at times and now will have a chance to be the Saints top CB. Spencer Rattler has started 14 games at quarterback, and despite a 1-13 record he is a more than capable backup QB, which isn’t bad value for the 5th round, especially when compared to prior late round QBs like Ian Book and Jake Haener. Bub Means will get a chance to play again after missing all of 2025 with an injury, and Jaylan Ford has stuck around on special teams. This draft could get even better if Fuaga and McKinstry continue to improve.
#5 – 2022
Chris Olave (1st Round) | Trevor Penning (1st Round) | Alontae Taylor (2nd Round) | D’Marco Jackson (5th Round) | Jordan Jackson (6th Round)
Chris Olave has been the Saints WR1 since he was drafted, and has registered 1,000+ yards every year of his career save for an injury plagued 2024. He a was a great pick at #11 overall, as he has been arguably the best receiver of his class alongside fellow Buckeye Garrett Wilson. They missed with their next first round pick though, trading up to draft Trevor Penning who was nothing more than average, but then drafted nickel CB Alontae Taylor in the second round who was a very solid player on defense. This draft is not as deep, as late round picks D’Marco Jackson and Jordan Jackson were never more than practice squad guys, but getting two quality players in Olave and Taylor makes this draft an overall success.
#4 – 2019
Erik McCoy (2nd Round) | C.J. Gardner-Johnson (4th Round) | Saquan Hampton (6th Round) | Alize Mack (7th Round) | Kaden Elliss (7th Round)
2019 was the only year in the last decade where the Saints didn’t have a 1st-round pick and they still managed to find a franchise cornerstone. Erik McCoy was drafted to replace retiring Pro Bowl center Max Unger and easily picked up the slack. He has been a great player his whole seven-year career in New Orleans and is still one of the most important pieces on offense. Just look at how they have performed without him over the last few years when he has been out with injuries. The Saints also drafted C.J. Gardner-Johnson in the 4th round who proved to be a very good player. They perhaps gave up on him too early as well, trading him to the Eagles after his third season, but the Saints still got three good years out of him before sending him to Philly. Kaden Elliss is another player who broke out after leaving New Orleans, but he still gave the team 7 sacks in 2022 and is now back with the Saints after signing a 3-year deal this offseason. Getting a player as good as McCoy in the second round and finding two other quality starters on day 3 is a great draft.
#3 – 2025
Kelvin Banks, Jr. (1st Round) | Tyler Shough (2nd Round) | Vernon Broughton (3rd Round) | Jonas Sanker (3rd Round) | Danny Stutsman (4th Round) | Quincy Riley (4th Round) | Devin Neal (6th Round) | Moliki Matavao (7th Round) | Fadil Diggs (7th Round)
The Saints most recent draft looks like it is one of their best. First round pick Kelvin Banks, Jr. joined Taliese Fuaga at tackle and fit in seamlessly, vastly improving the Saints offensive line. Jonas Sanker started 16 games at safety and made numerous plays throughout the season. But the player who will make or break the quality of this draft class going forward will be quarterback Tyler Shough. Shough was named the starter halfway through the year and managed to finish his rookie year with a winning record in games he started for a team that was 1-7 when he took over. A journeyman in college, spending six years with three different schools, Shough was considered a risky choice especially since he was already 25-years old. This turned out to be a great benefit though, as Shough showed great maturity and poise in his rookie year and turned the Saints season around. If he continues to improve and stays healthy the Saints have found their next franchise QB, which makes this draft one of the best they have pulled off recently.
#2 – 2016
Sheldon Rankins (1st Round) | Michael Thomas (2nd Round) | Vonn Bell (2nd Round) | David Onyemata (4th Round) | Daniel Lasco (7th Round)
Losing the best receiver in team history during the 2016 offseason was a blow, but replacing Marques Colston with Michael Thomas ensured the Saints offense would continue to be elite for the remainder of the decade. Thomas had one of the best starts to a career for a receiver in NFL history, breaking the records for fewest games to 300, 400, and 500 receptions, and setting a new record for the most receptions in the first 5 years of a career. Thomas set the record for most receptions in a single season in 2019, but sadly injuries derailed his career and he has not played since 2023. Fellow Buckeye Vonn Bell was a good box safety who also provided a lot of depth to the secondary. The Saints also got Sheldon Rankins and David Onyemata in this draft , but very solid starters at defensive tackle who gave the Saints great years in the late 2010s and helped make them one of the best run defenses in the NFL. Drafting the best receiver the team has had other than Colston and three guys who contributed to the Saints strong run defense in the final years of the Brees-Payton era makes this one of their best recent drafts.
#1 – 2017
Marshon Lattimore (1st Round) | Ryan Ramczyk (1st Round) | Marcus Williams (2nd Round) | Alvin Kamara (3rd Round) | Alex Anzalone (3rd Round) | Trey Hendrickson (3rd Round) | Al-Quadin Muhammad (6th Round)
The Saints 2017 Draft is the best of this century and possibly even one of the best in NFL history. Four of the seven players made the Pro Bowl or an All-Pro team, and all seven have turned out to be above average starters. Marshon Lattimore was one of the premier shutdown corners in the NFL in his prime, and provided an edge to the Saints defense that allowed them to compete with the high level of quarterback play they faced in the NFC South. Ryan Ramczyk was the best right tackle in football for most of his career, and Marcus Williams was a very good free safety who finished with 15 interceptions in five years in New Orleans. Alex Anzalone and Al-Quadin Muhammad were both let go too early, as both were major contributors in Detroit over the last few years after not receiving second contract in New Orleans. Trey Hendrickson gave the Saints a great season in 2020 at least, but has become one of the best defensive ends in the NFL since the Saints were unable to keep him in free agency. The crown jewel of this draft however is Alvin Kamara. Drafted in the third round after a good but not great college career, Kamara has become the best running back in team history and has been one of the faces of the franchise and a staple of the New Orleans community ever since he was drafted. The unfortunate thing about this draft is that the Saints were unable to keep ever player they selected long term, but when you draft seven players you would like to sign to a second contract, many of whom would have to be among the highest paid players at their position, that inevitably is what would happen. The Saints kept the best of them however, and this draft in one night instantly made the Saints contenders again after three seasons of mediocre football. Kamara and Lattimore both won rookie of the year and the Saints won four of the nine division titles in team history immediately following this draft. This draft should be remembered as the best in team history and one of the deepest and best in league history.
