NFL Draft Day three is always exciting for the Saints… (1 Viewer)

[ndcc]

Main reasons: UDFA’s.

Our later round picks are still important, but the Saints are among the best in the NFL at getting those UDFA diamonds in the rough.

Kudos to our scouting department brain trust.

Can’t wait!

 

[SigFreudianSlip]

. And our two late round picks last season were good ones imo. We've done very well in the later rounds imo.

 

[Artifactual]

Main reasons: UDFA’s.

Our later round picks are still important, but the Saints are among the best in the NFL at getting those UDFA diamonds in the rough.

Kudos to our scouting department brain trust.

Can’t wait!

Couldn't agree more!!!

This afternoon after the draft, and tomorrow, could bring just as much excitement with the UDFA Rookie signings as the players the Saints draft today. By Monday the Saints will have signed about a dozen of these players. The UDFA Rookie class always brings some excitement with some long shot potential project type players. And it seems like every year, against all odds, one or two of them make the final 53-man roster and several others make their way onto the practice squad initially.

Back to the later round picks today. As of now the Saints have three picks in Round 5, #150, #170, and #175. They hold pick #199 in the 6th Round and pick # 239 in the 7th Round. I expect the Saints to make a trade up to get a pick in the 4th round which will cost some of their draft capital this year.

The Saints still have holes to fill at several positions that include OLine, DT, S, TE, and WR. Some positions will have to be filled through post draft free agency with some veterans that can either come in as starters or as solid depth. A slot cover corner is an under the radar position of need that could use a starter.

 

[soggymoss84]

Couldn't agree more!!!

This afternoon after the draft, and tomorrow, could bring just as much excitement in the UDFA Rookie signings as the players the Saints draft today. By Monday the Saints will have signed about a dozen of these players. The UDFA Rookie class always brings some excitement with some long shot potential project type players. And it seems like every year, against all odds, one or two of them make the final 53-man roster and several others make their way onto the practice squad initially.

Back to the later round picks today. As of now the Saints have three picks in Round 5, #150, #170, and #175. They hold pick #199 in the 6th Round and pick # 239 in the 7th Round. I expect the Saints to make a trade up to get a pick in the 4th round which will cost some of their draft capital this year.

The Saints still have holes to fill at several positions that include OLine, DT, S, TE, and WR. Some positions will have to be filled through post draft free agency with some veterans that can either come in as starters or as solid depth. A slot cover corner is an under the radar position of need that could use a starter.

Kool Aid can play in the slot

 

[Artifactual]

Kool Aid can play in the slot

Well, in his interview he said he can and he's willing to. That's a good start. But can he is the question? He played outside corner at Bama. The Saints tried a decent 2nd year corner in Alonte Taylor at the slot last year and he graded out as the worst in the league. That's a position of need on the Saints defense that must be upgraded in 2024 either by improved play from Taylor or by a different player altogether. That's a tall task to ask of a rookie.

The Saints are 4 deep as of now at the outside corner with Lattimore, Adebo, Taylor, and now Kool-Aid. In order to find meaningful snaps as a rookie Kool-Aid will have to try his hand wherever he can which he said he's willing to do. And hopefully you're right and he can fill a void there or at least compete with Taylor for the starting position if the Saints don't bring someone else in free agency to man that spot.

 

[meily]

We haven't struck gold on an UDFA in awhile.

 

[Snakehead]

We haven't struck gold on an UDFA in awhile.

Shaheed was a UDFA signing in 2022. That wasn't that long ago. Our K and P were UDFA signings in 2023.

 

[BBarnes]

We haven't struck gold on an UDFA in awhile.

Our kicker scored the 9th most points in the NFL last year out of kickers as rookie. While I think he could improve, we did pretty dang good with that pickup just last year.

 

[St. Geezy]

We haven't struck gold on an UDFA in awhile.

A few names off hand (most may not be “jackpot hits” like a Shaheed per se but they’ve contributed in some capacity, which for an UDFA it kind of is indeed a hit)….

Juwan Johnson
Marquez Callaway
Blake Gilikin
Lou Hedley
Blake Grupe
Nephi Sewell
Rashid Shaheed
Malcolm Roach
Tony Jones

 

[Consigliere]

One thing we used to do was trade late-round picks for decent starters. We got Hollis Thomas for a 4th and he was a solid starter for 2-3 years. Rookie salaries are kindest but it is a big question-mark whereas vets are established.

 

[Artifactual]

We haven't struck gold on an UDFA in awhile.

2023. Blake Grupe - UDFA Rookie Starting Kicker.
2023. Lou Hedley - UDFA Rookie Starting Punter.
2023. Mark Evans, II - UDFA Rookie OT Practice Squad and Reserve OL.
2022. Nephi Sewell - UDFA Rookie Reserve LB Core STP.
2022. Rashid Shaheed - UDFA Rookie WR/KR/PR. Now Starting WR. 2023 Pro Bowl, All-Pro KR
2020. Juwan Johnson - UDFA Rookie WR. Converted to TE. Now in starting rotation.
2020. Malcom Roach - UDFA Rookie DT. Contributing Rotational DT. Lost in FA
2019. Carl Granderson - UDFA Rooke DE. Now Starting DE. Lead Saints in Sacks with 8.5 in 2023.
2019. Deonte Harty - UDFA Rookie WR/KR - Pro Bowl / All-Pro as a Rookie KR
2018. J.T. Gray - UDFA Rookie DB - Core Special Team Ace. 2019 2nd Tm. All-Pro. 2021 Pro Bowl, 1st Tm. All-Pro
2017. Taysom Hill - UDFA Rookie QB - To much to list. Has Uniform Displayed In The NFL HOF, Canton, Ohio

You strike gold on an UDFA if they make your 53-man roster and contribute in some way. If you can find one or more players each year to do so you have struck gold. The Saint have done a great job in finding players each year that can compete for a roster spot and a few stick every year. That's Lagniappe!

A player from this pool that becomes a Roster Player for any length of time, a Starter, an All-Pro/Pro Bowl Player, a League or Team Record Setter, or one that has HOF status, would be considered hitting the motherload. The Saints have a history of hitting the motherload on undrafted rookie free agents from year to year.

Let it continue in 2024!!!

 

[St. Geezy]

2023. Blake Grupe - UDFA Rookie Starting Kicker.
2023. Lou Hedley - UDFA Rookie Starting Punter.
2023. Mark Evans, II - UDFA Rookie OT Practice Squad and Reserve OL.
2022. Nephi Sewell - UDFA Rookie Reserve LB Core STP.
2022. Rashid Shaheed - UDFA Rookie WR/KR/PR. Now Starting WR. 2023 Pro Bowl, All-Pro KR
2020. Juwan Johnson - UDFA Rookie WR. Converted to TE. Now in starting rotation.
2020. Malcom Roach - UDFA Rookie DT. Contributing Rotational DT. Lost in FA
2019. Carl Granderson - UDFA Rooke DE. Now Starting DE. Lead Saints in Sacks with 8.5 in 2023.
2019. Deonte Harty - UDFA Rookie WR/KR - Pro Bowl / All-Pro as a Rookie KR
2018. J.T. Gray - UDFA Rookie DB - Core Special Team Ace. 2019 2nd Tm. All-Pro. 2021 Pro Bowl, 1st Tm. All-Pro
2017. Taysom Hill - UDFA Rookie QB - To much to list. Has Uniform Displayed In The NFL HOF, Canton, Ohio

You strike gold on an UDFA if they make your 53-man roster and contribute in some way. If you can find one or more players each year to do so you have struck gold. The Saint have done a great job in finding players each year that can compete for a roster spot and a few stick every year. That's Lagniappe!

A player from this pool that becomes a Roster Player for any length of time, a Starter, an All-Pro/Pro Bowl Player, a League or Team Record Setter, or one that has HOF status, would be considered hitting the motherload. The Saints have a history of hitting the motherload on undrafted rookie free agents from year to year.

Let it continue in 2024!!!

For some reason I though Granderson was drafted on day 3. Completely forgot he was a UDFA pickup. He certainly qualifies as THE jackpot free agent of the bunch, with Shaheed a close second.

 

[soggymoss84]

I didn’t realize J’Tavion Sanders was still available

Trade next years 4th and a 5th this year to Carolina and go get him at 101

 

[St. Geezy]

In addition to the guys that made the team, there are also a handful of "fun names" to point out that I believe many of us enjoyed rooting for during mini-camps, training camp, preseason games, etc.

Chase Hansen
Shy Tuttle (actually someone that should be in the contribution lists above)
Lil'Jordan Humphrey
Emmanuel Butler
Calvin Throckmorton (had his moments in a few games)
Lucas Krull
Smoke Monday
Shaq Davis

I believe we have made our point: undrafted free agency is fun!

 

[St. Geezy]

I didn’t realize J’Tavion Sanders was still available

Trade next years 4th and a 5th this year to Carolina and go get him at 101

Yeah he was someone I liked in the third and other tight ends ranked lower than him by most publications have been drafted.

Wonder if there is some sort of character flag on him that hasn't made its way to the public, like a coach bad-mouthed him or something. Seems odd.

ESPN's #2 tight end in this draft.