New Orleans Saints 2023 Draft Grade
Another NFC South team that had a solid 2023 Draft. The Saints addressed a lot of needs with this draft, not only that but added stars at most of those positions. Considering, they had a late 1st round draft pick, I was impressed with the players they added to the defensive line. Also, did they add their franchise QB in this draft? Keep reading to find out.
Round 1: No. 29 (via DEN) – Bryan Bresee, DT, Clemson Tigers
I knew that if Bryan Bresee made it to pick 29, he was going to be selected by the Saints. Although he was injury prone in college, he came back and fired on all cylinders. He tested very well at the Combine and ran a 4.89 40. Although he is under 300 lbs., he is very physical and can hold his ground at the point of attack. Once he breaks through blocks, he has the mobility needed to make plays in the backfield. Additionally, they can choose to develop him however they want, because he can play NT, 3-tech, and EDGE.
Grade: B+
Round 2: No. 40 – Isaiah Foskey, EDGE, Notre Dame Fighting Irish
Another pick, another physically gifted defensive lineman. Foskey stands at 6’5″, but has the foot speed and agility of a smaller linebacker. Once the ball is snapped, he does a good job of keeping his feet moving while using his physicality to drive blockers back. His long arms allow him to make tackles while engaged, so he has a strong presence against the run game.
Grade: B+
Round 3: No. 71 – Kendre Miller, RB, TCU Horned Frogs
Miller is exactly what you want from a feature back in the NFL. He doesn’t have the best elusiveness to make people miss, but he has a strong lower body that allows him to stay balanced through hits. In the backfield, he shows good vision to quickly find a seam in the offensive line. Then he can quickly take off down the field for a big gain. Overall, he will be a solid weapon in the backfield for years to come. He also has the potential to grow into a special player, given that he will sit behind Jamaal Williams and Alvin Kamara.
Grade: B+
Round 4: No. 103 (via CHI) – Nick Saldiveri, G, Old Dominion Monarchs
I am a huge fan of Nick Saldiveri and I think he is a steal in the 4th round. For his size, he has incredible knee bend and is good at keeping his pad level low. This allows him to gain leverage on the opposing defender and keep them neutralized. He also has good lateral agility which makes him very effective in pass protection. Although the Saints likely drafted him to play guard, he has the ability to slide out to the outside and play right tackle.
Grade: A-
Round 4: No. 127 (via JAX) – Jake Haener, QB, Fresno State Bulldogs
This was the best pick that the Saints made in this draft. Although adding Carr to the roster was a solid move, I strongly believe you are looking at this year’s Brock Purdy. To start, he is a very instinctual QB who is calm in the pocket and can quickly work through progressions. This allows him to not make many mistakes and find an open receiver down the field. However, before he is an everyday starter, he needs to work on his ability to make plays deep down the field.
Grade: A
Round 5: No. 146 – Jordan Howden, DB, Minnesota Golden Gophers
Howden was an experienced player for the Golden Gophers. He started 49 career games and was nothing short of effective. His instincts and football IQ allow him to be left on an island in cover one. When on an island, he does a good job of keeping his eye on the QB and being able to get a good jump on the ball. However, he needs to work on his ability to close out on intended targets. He has a tendency to keep his pad level too high, which impacts his top speed and acceleration. Although this is a good pick, there were better DBs on the board in my opinion.
Grade: B-
Round 6: No. 195 (via DEN) – A.T. Perry, WR, Wake Forest Demon Deacons
Along with the Saldiveri and Haener picks, I am a huge fan of adding Perry to this roster. Perry is a bigger receiver who is a natural at making plays deep down the field. His long arms also allow him to go up and high-point the ball and come down with the ball. Finally, he is able to make plays up the middle of the field and even hold onto the ball through contact.
Grade: A-
Final Thoughts on New Orleans Saints Draft
Overall, I think the Saints had a solid draft. They ensured that they addressed positions of need and drafted solid players at those positions. Bresee and Foskey made their defensive line even more dynamic than it already was. As long as they can stay healthy, QBs are not going to have much time in the pocket with them on the field together. On the offensive side of the ball, they added a lot of players who have the potential to grow into special players.
Overall Draft Grade: B+
Saints 2023 Draft Grade Analyst – Matthew Lewis
