Grade the 2024 Saints Draft Class

I gave this draft an A.

We only really had one absolute must which was a day one starting tackle. We filled that need, without trading up, with probably the guy most ready to just plug into the line up, from multiple perspectives - physical talent, technique, maturity, mental make up, scheme fit. While we still don't know how the Penning situation will play out (I still have a healthy belief that he will come good in the end), I like that we have drafted a starting RT, rather than LT. We know Ram won't last much longer, at most this year, so that's an absolute and known gap. Should Ram enjoy an indian summer, Fuaga can play LT, or even LG for a year - he has that versatility. I think the plan is to bring Peat back to compete at LT and LG and see how it shakes out.

After that singular, absolute must, we really needed to add quality to our team. We needed contributors and depth pieces, ideally with upside. I know there were some areas where this need was more pronounced, but every position needed an influx of talent, potential and competition. I think we did exactly that over the next 6 picks.

McKinstry was a shock from a positional pov, but the value is hard to argue with. We got a bona fide 1st round talent in the 2nd round. He's a future starter and it's a smart pick. I think if the talent that fell to that range were a DT or WR we may have been happier, but the run on those positions happened earlier an would have cost more capital to get involved in. And it's a premium position where it's hard to really waste a pick on trying to improve in any year. I could argue that moving up for Jackson Powers Johnson would have added more improvement to the team because he's the same value as McKinstry (1st round range - 20-30) but we have a JPJ shaped question mark at LG. So, like, I hate this pick but I love it, if that makes sense.

Rattler, another pick I hate, but also love. Extreme value at another premium position where you have to continually be trying to find a unicorn. You have to be in it to win it. I think from a talent perspective, he's better than Haener, who went in the 4th last year. Who knows where this guy ends up in 3 years, but the key point is that it could be as an NFL starter. There are very few each year who you can say that about. Given a different situation/ college experience he could have drafted in the 1st round this year instead of Pe/Nix.

For the rest, we got decent players with some upside at positions where we needed them - OL, LB, DL, WR, but as I say, the positions where we needed depth was like a dart board, anywhere will do. You could toss in TE with Holker as a UDFA.

WR/TE - Bub Means and Dalkin Holker - bigger pass catchers with YAC-ability
OL - Ezirim is a bit raw/project but has the right build (big, thick, long-armed) and tools (good mover, quickness, strength) to play inside and outside and is a nice fit with the scheme. Curious about about Nuri Nouili because of his background, but a bit of a longshot.
DL - We needed a big, thick run stuffer to compete and that's what Boyd provides - older, but also under developed in terms of technique. Has good physical tools though and, while taking level of play into account, has shown pass rush ability.
LB - We needed depth. I'm comfortable with our top 3 but need to keep looking for more pieces and hoping one develops. Ford has really good production at Texas and good physical tools, but needs development and rounding his game. Probably never more than a back up an special teamer, but this will be more important given new kick off rules.

So, yeah, I'm happy enough.