Analyzing how New Orleans’ draft history shaped its present—and what it means for 2025
Over the last decade, the New Orleans Saints have been one of the NFL’s most aggressive and unpredictable teams during the NFL Draft. Their selections have produced franchise cornerstones and costly disappointments, from blockbuster trades to hidden gems. As the 2025 NFL Draft approaches, the Saints face another pivotal offseason that could determine whether the team finally begins a long-awaited rebuild or tries to squeeze more success out of an aging core.
Examining where they’ve been is critical to understanding where they’re going. Here’s a breakdown of the Saints’ biggest draft hits and misses over the past 10 years and what lessons they must carry into this year’s draft.
The Hits
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Michael Thomas (2nd Round, 2016)
Thomas was arguably the best wide receiver in football for a three-year stretch, setting the single-season reception record (149) in 2019 and winning Offensive Player of the Year. Injuries derailed his career after 2020, but the pick remains one of the best value selections the Saints have made in the modern era.
Lesson: Don’t be afraid to grab elite talent outside Round 1. The second round is often where stars fall due to positional runs or red flags that can be coached out.
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Alvin Kamara (3rd Round, 2017)
The 2017 draft class was a masterstroke, and Kamara was its crown jewel. A dynamic dual-threat back, Kamara immediately changed the face of the Saints’ offense and has been one of the league’s most consistent playmakers when healthy.
Lesson: Athletic upside + scheme fit = success. Kamara was tailor-made for Sean Payton’s offense, and it showed immediately.
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Ryan Ramczyk (1st Round, 2017)
Taken with the final pick of the first round, Ramczyk quickly became one of the league’s best right tackles. He anchored the line for years and brought much-needed consistency to the trenches.
Lesson: Building from the inside out remains a smart strategy, especially for teams looking for offensive stability.
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Marcus Williams (2nd Round, 2017)
Despite the infamous “Minneapolis Miracle,” Williams was one of the most reliable free safeties in the league during his time in New Orleans. He brought range, instincts, and ball skills the secondary sorely lacked.
Lesson: Drafting traits and instincts over combined hype pays dividends in the secondary.
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Trey Hendrickson – 3rd Round, 2017: A Draft Hit That Slipped Away
From a pure draft evaluation standpoint, Trey Hendrickson was a clear success. Selected in the third round of the 2017 draft out of Florida Atlantic, Hendrickson took a few years to find his footing in the Saints’ defensive rotation. But when he finally broke out in 2020, he made it count—recording 13.5 sacks and becoming one of the most feared edge rushers in the league.
Unfortunately, the Saints allowed him to walk in free agency that offseason, citing salary cap constraints. Hendrickson signed with the Cincinnati Bengals, where he earned Pro Bowl recognition and established himself as one of the league’s top pass rushers. Many still view his departure as one of the Saints’ biggest roster management mistakes of the last decade.
Lesson Learned: It’s not enough to draft well; you must also retain your rising stars. Hendrickson’s exit highlights the importance of long-term cap planning and proactive contract management. Letting a player walk just as they reach their prime weakens your roster and forces you to invest premium resources trying to replace what you already developed.
6. Erik McCoy- (2nd Round, 2019)
Selected 48th overall, McCoy immediately became the Saints’ starting center as a rookie — which is rare and impressive for an offensive lineman. He’s been a stabilizing force on the offensive line, showing strong awareness, technique, and consistency in pass protection and run-blocking schemes. While he’s had some injuries in recent years, he’s been largely dependable and has anchored the line through multiple quarterback transitions.
The Misses
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Marcus Davenport (1st Round, 2018 – Trade Up)
The Saints traded a 2019 first-round pick to move up for Davenport, hoping he would become a franchise edge rusher. While he flashed elite traits, he never put it all together consistently and struggled with injuries throughout his time in New Orleans.
Lesson: Be cautious when trading up, especially for raw prospects at premium positions. The cost of missing is compounded.
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Payton Turner (1st Round, 2021)
Another first-round edge rusher with injury concerns, Turner followed a similar trajectory as Davenport—promising tools, but almost never on the field. He played in just 15 games in his first three seasons and signed elsewhere in 2025.
Lesson: Availability is a skill. Medical red flags cannot be ignored when making a Day 1 investment.
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Zack Baun (3rd Round, 2020)
Baun was a college pass-rusher the Saints tried to convert into an off-ball linebacker. The transition never materialized, and Baun has struggled to carve out a consistent role in Dennis Allen’s defense.
Lesson: Position switches are risky. If you’re drafting a player for a role he hasn’t played, the margin for error is razor-thin.
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Ian Book (4th Round, 2021)
The Saints reached for Book in hopes he could be a long-term developmental quarterback. He was waived after just one season and is a cautionary tale for overvaluing intangibles without the physical tools.
Lesson: Don’t draft a quarterback in the middle rounds unless they have elite traits or fit a specific system. Otherwise, you’re just burning a pick.
5. Tre’Quan Smith, WR (2018 – Round 3, Pick 91)
Tre’Quan Smith’s career in New Orleans serves as a textbook example of unmet expectations. Drafted in 2018 to be the long-term WR2 behind Michael Thomas, Smith was given every opportunity to seize a prominent role in Sean Payton’s offense. Despite occasional flashes—notably a two-touchdown game against Washington in Drew Brees’ record-setting night—Smith never consistently produced at a starting-caliber level.
Injuries and inconsistencies plagued his development, and he failed to take the leap many anticipated. While he remained on the roster for several seasons, his lack of growth and failure to evolve into a dependable weapon ultimately left a void in the receiving corps. In hindsight, Smith’s selection illustrates the dangers of projecting upside without a clearly defined skill set. This miss lingered far too long for a team that needed more firepower at wide receiver.
Lesson: The Saints’ gamble on Tre’Quan Smith highlights the importance of drafting receivers with either elite traits or proven production in high-pressure situations. While Smith possessed intriguing athleticism and size coming out of UCF, his route-running refinement and ability to separate at the next level never truly developed. Moving forward, New Orleans must prioritize receivers who either dominate against top-tier college competition or bring a more complete, polished skill set. Banking on developmental leaps without consistent flashes can leave a roster thin at critical skill positions—especially in an NFL increasingly driven by explosive passing attacks.
What This Means for 2025
The Saints enter the 2025 NFL Draft with more needs than they’ve had in years: offensive line depth, defensive tackle talent, a true WR1, and possibly a quarterback of the future. They’re also navigating a complex salary cap situation and a looming rebuild.
So what should they prioritize—filling immediate holes or selecting the best player available?
A Balanced Approach Is Needed
Recent draft history shows that the Saints do best when they blend need with value. The 2017 class worked because it met urgent needs while bringing in high-upside players who fit the Saints’ culture and scheme.
In 2025, New Orleans must avoid chasing immediate help for short-term fixes. The team isn’t one player away, and it’s more important to draft future starters than patchwork depth. At the same time, passing on a glaring need (say, tackle or wide receiver) for a luxury pick could hinder development for whoever ends up under center long-term.
Draft With the Future in Mind
The Saints’ draft record over the past decade is a mixed bag of brilliance and frustration. Their biggest successes came from well-scouted players with elite traits who fit what they do schematically. Their biggest failures came from trying to force the issue—either by trading up recklessly or drafting projects that never developed.
With a new coaching staff and the roster in flux, this draft could start a new era in New Orleans. If the Saints can take the lessons of the past and apply them wisely, 2025 could be a turning point—not just for the front office but for the entire franchise.
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