Article Hits, Misses, and Lessons Learned from a Decade of Saints Draft Picks (1 Viewer)

[B_doggman47]

Easy. Stay from players in the first round that have the words potential or project attached to them.

Done.

Every player I've looked at, most of their analysis's have the word potential in there. From top 10 picks to late round picks. No matter who you draft it's all based on their potential to make it at the next level which is the NFL.

 

[SigFreudianSlip]

Ireland and Loomis need to nail 4 starters in this draft. Last year they got 2, year before 1. They passed by on so many productive players in 2023 it made me sick. Pretty unacceptable. Haven't draft anyone good in mid to late rounds in ages. This is where you usually get the odd lineman and db.

That’s easier said than done. Would be nice tho.
So many positions on the team currently could stand to be upgraded. I’m actually excited for this draft as I feel that they’ll be hard pressed to let me down as we need help all over.

Here’s to hoping.

 

[SigFreudianSlip]

Every player I've looked at, most of their analysis's have the word potential in there. From top 10 picks to late round picks. No matter who you draft it's all based on their potential to make it at the next level which is the NFL.

I get what he’s saying, but yep, the draft is a crap shoot.

 

[B_doggman47]

I get what he’s saying, but yep, the draft is a crap shoot.

Yes it is. How many players over the years were branded as franchise players with all the physical tools and in a couple of years have bombed right out of the league.

 

[RadsRock]

Yes it is. How many players over the years were branded as franchise players with all the physical tools and in a couple of years have bombed right out of the league.

About half of them.

Well for first rounders anyway. Doubtless the number climbs with each round.

 

[Jd101]

I did a deep dive last year here somewhere on Saints drafts 2018-2024. Total grade, like C-

They drafted some starters but not pro bowlers

They drafted and developed starters and urinated them away to other teams

Even a couple years ago, they were still into their cocky overreaching and dumb trades for players from 2nd and 3rd tier conferences.

Fortunately, the vibe is better now with Kellen Moore here and Loomis putting up some guardrails on cap management. But the roster and cap work prior has been abysmal. In the least, Ireland should've been asked to go or left, just as the Payton draft architect Rick Reiprish did when things got sour after a good run of success.

Are you an NFL scout, or is this just another example of someone being a Monday morning qb ?

 

[Saint KayBee]

Yes it is. How many players over the years were branded as franchise players with all the physical tools and in a couple of years have bombed right out of the league.

And not just drafted by the Saints! All 32 teams have some pretty epic flameouts at the top of the draft. Even Saintsreport’s beloved Eagles whiffed on Jalen Reagor with Justin Jefferson available and taken with the very next pick.

We tend to over-focus on the team we cheer for, which is not unreasonable, but acting like it only happens to us is. That’s what I’d like to see the fanbase get out of, because as I’ve mentioned previously, some of the baseless bellyaching makes the shared part of fandom less fun for me. There’s a new coach and a new era to look forward to and I’d prefer to default to optimism since so few vestiges remain from the previous regime.

 

[solarbear88]

Can you name 4 positions that don’t have a starter?

Can you name 4 position groups that aren't below average or facing gaping holes?

Our TE can't block, we have no big WR, no LG, no proven backup QB, no back up RB, missing a legit pass rusher, no proven run stopping presence up the middle either, our LBs didn't make plays last year, lost both our best CB, lost our best safety and our other one was making business decisions.

The only position I feel good about is kicker.

I can't think of one position group that isn't below average. And all position groups currently lack depth. At all the real money positions CB, DE, QB, WR I see no one who is an impact player. As a result not enough plays are made when the team needs it.

 

[austrian-saint]

And not just drafted by the Saints! All 32 teams have some pretty epic flameouts at the top of the draft. Even Saintsreport’s beloved Eagles whiffed on Jalen Reagor with Justin Jefferson available and taken with the very next pick.

We tend to over-focus on the team we cheer for, which is not unreasonable, but acting like it only happens to us is. That’s what I’d like to see the fanbase get out of, because as I’ve mentioned previously, some of the baseless bellyaching makes the shared part of fandom less fun for me. There’s a new coach and a new era to look forward to and I’d prefer to default to optimism since so few vestiges remain from the previous regime.

Agree 100%. Only thing I really don't get is how they value draft picks in general. They trade it away like it's nothing to worry about. When you don't draft as much players as other teams do, you have to get the right guys, otherwise it looks like it's looking now. When you draft around 27 to 30 players in a 3 to 4 year span, your chance on a hit increases dramatically. When you only draft 15 to 18 guys in that span, you have to nail your picks. And that's what we don't do.
Best example is Davenport. I knew it like it was yesterday. I hated it at that point, that they trade up for Jackson. Wasn't all that impressed with him coming out of college. Then I thought "at least it's a QB", maybe he sit and learn behind Drew. And then they took Davenport and traded away next years 1st rounder for that dude like it was nothing. That's how you set your franchise years back. They have to value draft picks a lot more like they did the last years.
But they are good at UDFA's. I give them that. That's a pretty impressive track record with undrafted guys.

 

[B_doggman47]

And not just drafted by the Saints! All 32 teams have some pretty epic flameouts at the top of the draft. Even Saintsreport’s beloved Eagles whiffed on Jalen Reagor with Justin Jefferson available and taken with the very next pick.

We tend to over-focus on the team we cheer for, which is not unreasonable, but acting like it only happens to us is. That’s what I’d like to see the fanbase get out of, because as I’ve mentioned previously, some of the baseless bellyaching makes the shared part of fandom less fun for me. There’s a new coach and a new era to look forward to and I’d prefer to default to optimism since so few vestiges remain from the previous regime.

Oh, I wasn't referring to the Saints. I was making a statement about players league wide. How many players over the years busted when they were tabbed as a sure thing.

 

[Geldo]

If you look at the Eagles they understand the modern NFL. Draft, develop, only give out 2nd contracts to Pro Bowlers, and 3rd to potential All Pros.

Loomis doesn't really get the importance of having a good draft top to bottom. The Eagles are looking 3 years down the road. Loomis is just trying to add a piece here or there, thinking he already has the core guys in the building. He doesn't. A lot of the Saints starters are old or below average. He also seems to think that there is not a big difference between UDFA players and draft prospects. Usually they are UDFA because they are not athletic enough. And that's how the team looks, not athletic enough or just don't have any football instincts. Which is ironic because of their love of the RAS score.

Good point, but this is why the draft has always been hard to master when you're a 5-12 to 9-8 team.

You miss out on the really impact players at the start of the draft who can transform an offense/defence and at the same time your roster is pretty average with a number of real needs so you don't have the luxury of drafting potential players and gently blending them into the team - or high-risk high-reward red flag guys who might fly in the NFL or end up out of the league in 3 years.

Powerful teams can also create value because they have far fewer needs and can always take BPA.

Honestly think there is a mediocrity trap in the draft that hits teams in the 'drafting every year between 10-20 bracket' that's hard to break out of unless you nail a draft because the right players fall repeatedly so you match BPA with need.

 

[B-Train]

What’s funny is that this shortcoming seems relatively universally accepted here. However after each draft pick every year there are certain users on this board who will sing the highest praises and give the draft an A+ grade and never reconcile this with the reality in the coming years.

Sigh. I guess hindsight is 50/50 like Cam Newton once said.

 

[texasjefe]

Are you an NFL scout, or is this just another example of someone being a Monday morning qb ?

Can't find the post right now but i simply listed all the players drafted by the Saints by year, starting with 2018 and looked at their outcomes. It's not any-day-of-the-week quarterbacking to make those conclusions. They are fairly cut-and-dry. They developed and pissed away Hendrickson, Ceedy, Baun, and others. They drafted cockily for years, highlighted by Davenport, which they surrendered a future #1 for. That's not just stupid, it was arrogant. The other players they drafted - other than McCoy, I don't think any made the pro bowl. Might be wrong on a player or two, but next to none. Sheed (UDFA) went as a returner, not as a receiver.

It was all closely paired with continued arrogance with the cap and contracts. Here we are, but Kellen has the sun rising again for the moment.

 

[Boy_of_wonder75]

New read from me.

The Saints have had their share of draft-day triumphs and misfires. Here's what the last decade tells us about how they should approach 2025. Enjoy!!

Saints' Draft Hits and Misses: A Decade in Review

Analyzing how New Orleans’ draft history shaped its present—and what it means for 2025 Over the last decade, the New Orleans Saints have been one of the NFL’s most aggressive and unpredictable teams during the NFL Draft. Their selections have produced franchise cornerstones and costly...

sportsview360.com

Really nicely done. My only quibble is with Tre'Quan Smith as a miss. When he was paired with Drew Brees, he was a solid third option, accounting for 10 touchdowns in those two seasons. For a guy drafted in the third round, I think he performed exactly as expected.