Grade the 2024 Saints Draft Class (1 Viewer)

[St. Widge]

B. I thought they needed to come away from this draft with a bonafide blue chip physical playmaker on offense. Either a TE or WR in the first 2 rounds. They didn’t. After my mental meltdown of watching Bowers going one pick ahead of us…. I was able to drink enough to drown my disappointment…. And realized that I don’t hate any of our picks. If we had come away with that offensive playmaker…. I’d be an A. Maybe Means is that guy…. So stay tuned. I may completely change my mind again, or end up with a Brock Bowers dart board.

I'm in very close agreement with you. I went B+. I think they did a good job of picking BPA in most rounds and I really like taking a flyer on Rattler. They also managed to fill a big hole at RT with which I think was likely BPA. They got great value with Kool-Aid.

I downgrade from an A just because I think they didn't fill all the "needs" they have including a plug and play YAC/contested catch pass catcher. Bub could be that guy, but he's a 5th round pick so it will likely take some time.

Still, I like that they didn't draft for need and drafted for the future, so the B+ is more a reflection of how many needs we have and how the draft fell.

 

[miamisaintsfan]

We didn’t give up any future picks, that in itself is worthy of an A

I can't even remember the last time that happened.

 

[Belfast Saint]

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.

 

[Clintonrebel]

Considering the kicks we had, I’m pleasantly surprised. Just wish we had more picks.

 

[SWJJ]

I said B+. I was meh about Rattler and Ford, but absolutely loved every other pick. I feel like they did a great job drafting for value and getting BPA and but overreaching to fill a hole. We got a couple of immediate contributors/starters and some depth with high upside potential.

 

[TribuneUK]

Horrible draft. Just dreadful.

We ignored playmakers in the draft's most important rounds, instead focusing on the highest graded players who could strengthen the team.

Why did we not force a pick based on perceived need and instead choose the next best WR just 9 picks before anyone else did (Brian Thomas of L!S!U!)? And why not turn around and trade up from #45, using future picks of course, to take one of the next 6 WRs who were snatched away in picks #28-37?

Who cares if a dominant OL was available at pick #14, who could strengthen both our run and pass game, fitting our new offensive scheme and bringing toughness back to the OL unit, while having the opportunity to understudy to the best RT this team has seen in some years? How many points has Taliese Fuaga scored over his high school and college career to date? Nowhere near enough to justify that pick!

And then in the second we traded up a few places, just to take the highest rated DB left on the board, in order to keep building a position of strength that our HC specialises in developing. Where are the playmakers? Catastrophe!!

And then the later round picks, OMG.

A QB in the 5th round? What good QB ever came from the 5th round, developing behind an entrenched starter until they took over a franchise? Well ok, apart from Mark Brunell. Why not take one of the many game-changing, playmaker, point scoring athletes left at that point, like [insert any WR name here. They're all amazing, I have absolutely no doubt]. This unnamed ubermensch would guarantee at least +2 wins on the Saints 2024 record. For sure!

And then why did we pick a WR so late? Ignoring the fact that he was the right pick, with the skillset to play the X role that actually fits a need on this team, favouring a big-body contested catch skillset over gaining separation, why didn't we take [insert some pet favourite WR name] at least two rounds earlier? I don't care that we didn't have a pick in the third, we should have offered all our remaining picks in the 5th, 6th and 7th (ignoring every points value chart) to get [whoever]. Madness, I tell you!!

Now I grant you, we needed a DL, but to take some guy out a small school, who fit the gap on our roster for a young space-filling NT, instead of taking a penetrating 3-tech that I personally preferred, despite us getting our 3-tech position sorted last year? Insufferable!

And then those depth and developmental picks to finish up. I mean, a LB and interior/swing OL? Like those guys ever pan out! Diabolical!!!111

Furious. Sack everyone. Something something rebuild etc.

 

[ItFan]

B+ for me
Value draft, but we did really address just one serious need out of 3-4 on the lines alone

 

[webster]

There are 7 names there. Is that possible? Saints, right?

I agree, drafting 7 players. Great job.

 

[Bayouboy]

For being disinterested in this draft due to my pessimistic view of the current coaching staff and my disdain for mortgaging the future on the constant trade ups from our recent past, I couldn't be happier with the draft as a whole. Super solid selections and if Rattler is the real deal and can become a starter down the road, this could be one of those "game changer" drafts. Biggest plus is we should have our full compliment of picks next year.....that's unheard of!

This tells me the Saints finally got out of the "win a championship now" mode. They were very responsible during free agency and now a solid draft without losing future draft capital. This team has a plan. Gives you hope for the future.

 

[RJS]

I like the draft overall. I think they did a good job of sticking to their board and not giving up future picks.

If I was going to nitpick, it would be the age of the day 3 picks.

• Rattler 23
• Means 23
• Ford 22
• Boyd 24
• Ezirim 22 (23 in May)

Things are still kind of weird due to the pandemic, but there's a little concern that players that age may have a lower ceiling for growth. Obviously, I hope they are all future All-Pros.

 

[sammymvpknight]

Key and Peele now run the Saints front office

 

[Heathen Saint]

B+

My first take on grabbing a QB was that we missed on a chance to address other immediate impact areas with taking Rattler, who might always be a backup. But it’s a huge value for the pick and I think Rattler is round 2-3 talent, so I’m happy with it.

The rest of the picks provide quality depth in the least which is good, but none really stood out a ton. I do think Ezirim has the potential to be a sneak steal.

2 good possible first/second season starters, good depth, no future picks given up. It was solid but not spectacular.

 

[joe87]

What I like most about this draft is they appear to finally realize they were in the "win now" mode of trading up to fill immediate needs too long, and the overall talent level has suffered for it. We're the oldest team in the league right now, and a reset of sorts was needed to focus on filling roster spots with value picks, rather than only focusing on the most immediate needs.

I believe last year's Draft was the first time since 1999 (for an obvious reason) where the entire Saints Draft class made the team, and all of the players in this class also have a clear route to making the team.

 

[guillermo]

I don’t feel I have the expertise to grade a draft class.

But the lowest grade I have seem is a B and PFF gave it a A+.

Jeremiah called Fuaga a future probowler. Saban was enthusiastic about Kool Aid. Every analyst agrees that the talent is there for Rattler to develop and be a starter. Means was one of Kiper’s favourite receivers.Boyd seems to be what we need at nose guard, and Ford is a team leader. Ezirim is a perfect 7th rounder, a huge talent to try to develop.

If we would have drafted TE McLahan, it would have been a dream draft for me.

 

[TribuneUK]

The TE pool was gutted during the fourth round. 6 taken in that round alone IIRC.