Leading up to every NFL Draft, the majority of headlines are about the first round, and players expected to be selected in the first round. However, the draft is a three-day event with seven rounds. The teams that really win the draft are the ones who can find really good players on days two and three.
The New Orleans Saints have proven they’re a team that can do that. The Saints have some misses in recent years, but they have been especially good on day two of the draft. Day two is always rounds two and three, and that’s when New Orleans has selected many of its current contributors.
Historically, the Saints have found franchise greats on day two of the draft. Alvin Kamara was selected in round three of the 2017 Draft, and Michael Thomas was picked in the second round of the 2016 Draft. New Orleans has continued this heater in the last six drafts.
Year | Round | Player (Position) |
|---|---|---|
2024 | 2 | Kool-Aid McKinstry (CB) |
2023 | 2 | Isaiah Foskey (DL) |
2023 | 3 | Kendre Miller (RB) |
2022 | 2 | Alontae Taylor (CB) |
2021 | 2 | Pete Werner (LB) |
2021 | 3 | Paulson Adebo (CB) |
2020 | 3 | Zack Baun (LB) |
2020 | 3 | Adam Trautman (TE) |
2019 | 2 | Erik McCoy (C) |
Saints have been excellent at drafting good players in rounds two and three
In the last six drafts, New Orleans has made nine day-two selections. Of those nine players, four are expected to start for the Saints in 2025, and another one, Paulson Adebo, just signed a nice contract with the New York Giants after starting in New Orleans. Zack Baun was also one of those day-two selections, and he’s coming off a season where he was a Defensive Player of the Year finalists with the Philadelphia Eagles.
It’s fair to say New Orleans knows how to find NFL talent outside of the first round. Capitalizing on day two is always important, because oftentimes, that’s when first-round caliber players are still available for one reason or another. Knowing which player is worth the gamble on day two is the difference between a good and a bad draft class.
The Saints have been successful at figuring that out in recent years, and they’ll try to continue that in the 2025 Draft.