With the 9th Pick in the 2025 draft, who should the Saints select? (merged)

livefromDC said
Passing on better players makes it take longer to become a contender. The draft is enough of a crap shoot without arbitrarily passing on players that grade out better. This is how Jonathan Sullivan got drafted by the Saints. The Saints stuck to their "need" list despite a run on defensive line. So instead of getting a better player they opted to fill a need. In hindsight, a better player would have helped the Saints much more than checking a box.

No that's just poor talent evaluation. If you are good at a position group or at least pretty good you don't pass a player at a position group that is a glaring need to draft a slightly higher graded player in a position group that you are strong at. THAT'S how you make a rebuild take even longer

If your OL is pretty good but you have no weapons you don't take an OL that is graded @ a 9 and pass a RB or WR that is graded at an 8.5