The New Orleans Saints are no strangers to controversy, as Mickey Loomis and Kellen Moore continued to raise eyebrows with some of their selections in the 2025 NFL Draft.
While the Saints invested in their offense heavily after the Derek Carr news and helped to rebuild their secondary, the value of some of the players selected in this class has to be called into question.
In a season that might be a bit of a long year as Moore tries his best to establish himself as a coach who can get this team turned around, it is time to take a look at this Saints draft and see if they managed to set themselves up for success.
Grading every New Orleans Saints 2025 draft pick
Round 1, Pick 9: Kelvin Banks Jr., OT, Texas
Banks might be the least controversial pick of the night, as the Saints drafted one of the best pass protectors in the draft and brought in someone who could pair with Taliese Fuaga to lock down both tackle spots for a decade in New Orleans.
Prediction: Banks ends the season as Pro Football Focus' best rookie left tackle and makes the All-Rookie team. Grade: A-
Round 2, Pick 40: Tyler Shough, QB, Louisville
Shough's selection is worthy of immense criticism, as he has major durability concerns, accuracy issues, and will be 26 as a rookie. The Saints need to hope that his very strong arm can make him an adequate successor to Derek Carr.
Prediction: Shough leads all non-Cam Ward rookies in passing yards and passing touchdowns after starting over half of New Orleans' games. Grade: D+
Round 3, Pick 71: Vernon Broughton, DT, Texas
Not only did the Saints neglect their holes at wide receiver and tight end to take a defensive tackle here, but they took a player in the developing Broughton who likely would have been available in either the fourth or fifth round.
Prediction: Broughton overtakes Nathan Shepherd's spot on the depth chart early in his rookie season. Grade: C-
Round 3, Pick 93: Jonas Sanker, SAF, Virginia
One of the more high-floor players out there on Day, this Tyrann Mathieu successor's blend of high football intelligence and ability tocause turnovers will be a welcome addition to a secondary starved of playmakers.
Prediction: Sanker ends the season tied for the team lead in interceptions. Grade: B
Round 4, Pick 112: Danny Stutsman, LB, Oklahoma
Stutsman will likely find playing time hard to come by at linebacker due to some etsablished studs ahead of him, but he is effective enough as a tackler and athlete to be both a special teams ace and solid injury Band-Aid as a rookie.
Prediction: Stutsman leads the team in special teams tackles and starts three games filling in for Pete Werner. Grade: B
Round 4, Pick 131: Quincy Riley, CB, Louisville
Riley might be one of the few Day 3 players in this class who could play right away, as his feistiness and ability to play excellent man coverage could make him a big part of the revitalization of this secondary.
Prediction: By the end of the year, Riley will be the starting nickel cornerback. Grade: A-
Round 6, Pick 184: Devin Neal, RB, Kansas
Neal is one of the best steals of the draft at any position, as few backs in this class can claim to have the same level of tackle-breaking skill and surprising speed in the open field. Neal should have been picked on Day 2.
Prediction: Neal becomes RB2 behind Alvin Kamara and rushes for over 600 yards this season. Grade: A
Round 7, Pick 248: Moliki Matavao, TE, UCLA
At 6-6 and 260 pounds, Matavao's receiving upside gives him more promise than most Day 3 dart throws.
Prediction: Matavao makes the final 53-man roster. Grade: C+
Round 7, Pick 254: Fadil Diggs, EDGE, Syracuse
A speedy edge rusher who is going to be a situational threat in the pros, Diggs has enough burst off the snap to become a threat if deployed correctly.
Prediction: Diggs tallies three sacks this season. Grade: B