Yaccarino’s Saints 2025 draft grades
The New Orleans Saints entered the 2025 NFL Draft with extreme roster needs. With nine selections, the Saints had enough opportunities to select prospects that met their needs or even go with the best player available to upgrade the roster.
Now that the draft is complete, it is time to grade these selections!
Round 1 (No. 9) – Kelvin Banks Jr.
Photo by Perry Knotts/Getty Images
With their first selection in the NFL Draft, the Saints went with Kelvin Banks Jr. from Texas. On draft night, this pick may have been a bit underwhelming, but now that the class is complete, this was a home run selection. RT Trevor Penning is not getting his fifth-year option picked up, and if the Saints ended up not attacking offensive line early in this draft, New Orleans could have gone into the 2026 season with an extremely weak O-line group. That is not what you want to happen 1 year into a “rebuild” with a new head coach, so attacking this issue early is very smart. Also, connecting this selection with the Saints’ second round pick QB Tyler Shough, offensive line is going to be vital to the success of a young QB prospect, specifically one who does not deal with pressure well. This selection was the perfect mix of going with one of the Saints’ best available players and fixing a need.
Grade: A+
Round 2 (No. 40) – Tyler Shough
Photo by Jeff Moreland/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Okay…. here is the controversial selection of the Saints draft. New Orleans chose Tyler Shough with pick 40 in the second round, and it caused some waves. Many believed this was the wrong selection, and that the Saints should have either gone with Shedeur Sanders/Jalen Milroe or just go with the best player available. Those QB prospects ended up falling far, and although I understand the argument of going with a less risky selection, I cannot fault the team for getting their QB. Clearly Kellen Moore loves what he sees in Shough’s game, and that is understandable. Shough has a good arm, mobility, throws at different arm angles, accurate, steps up in the pocket, and seems to have great character/leadership. The issue is going to be dealing with pressure, which he is very frantic when that happens. He loves to throw the ball away when faced with pressure, and although it is good to not force a play, there are times where he throws the ugliest interceptions ever. This is going to be something he needs to work on, and at 25 years old, it will be interesting to see if Tyler Shough can do that.
Grade: B-
Round 3 (No. 72) – Vernon Broughton
Photo by Matthew Visinsky/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
This is the first, and honestly only, more questionable selection for me in the draft. I get the Saints’ reasoning for this pick, but it is still questionable. With their first selection in the third round, the Saints picked Texas DT Vernon Broughton. He was a late riser in the draft process, but with his athleticism, positional flexibility, and links with the current Saints coaching staff (defensive line coach Bo Davis and defensive pass game coordinator Terry Joseph), it makes sense why the Saints went with Broughton at No. 72. It was also reported that New Orleans did not think Broughton was going to make it to them, so when he did, this was an easy selection for him. The reason I question this pick more is because of the players available and taking need into consideration. This pick could have been used some of the WRs, CBs, or EDGEs still available, and I felt those were important needs to target in the third. The Saints were able to address cornerback later, but not the other two positions. I am also not sure what Broughton’s path to playing time is going to be this season, and this selection may be better for the future than the present. Still, I do like this selection.
Grade: B-
Round 3 (No. 93) – Jonas Sanker
Photo by Chris Bernacchi/Diamond Images via Getty Images
One of the main issues for the Saints last season was run defense and tackling and selecting Jonas Sanker at 93 targets both of those issues. The Virginia safety brings energy to this defense, is a great chess piece on this defense, and will contribute right away on special teams. Leadership and communication are a strength of Sanker’s game, and there is a real chance that he can play week 1 on this defense. Sanker’s main competition this season is going to be Jordan Howden, who has struggled with communication and was drafted by the last defensive staff. Safety was not a significant need for the Saints, so that brings this selection’s grade down, but looking just at the player, Jonas Sanker is a day 1 contributor and a long-term answer at safety.
Grade: A-
Round 4 (No. 112) – Danny Stutsman
Photo by David Stacy/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Almost everything I said about Jonas Sanker can be applied to LB Danny Stutsman. A team captain since his sophomore season, the leader of Oklahoma, and an exceptional run defender. Similar with the last two selections, linebacker was not a top need for the Saints so once again brings the grade down a bit, but for the long-term success of this team, Stutsman can be Demario Davis’ successor. Similar to Davis, Stutsman is much better as a run defender and blitzer. In pass coverage, Davis is much better, but that will be something Stutsman needs to develop. Right now, he is very bad in pass coverage. Still, the future outlook of the Saints’ linebacker core is great. hopefully this season, Stutsman and Jaylen Ford can develop behind the starters but still contribute when needed.
Grade: B+
Round 4 (No. 131) – Quincy Riley
Photo by James Black/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
The Saints have gone away from the immediate roster needs in the recent selections, but with this selection, they got another perfect combination of need and best player available. CB Quincey Riley was the selection at 131, and this may have been the Saints’ steal of the draft, beside a later pick that I will get to. In one of my mock drafts, I actually had the Saints trading from this selection and picking Riley earlier in this round. I felt CB was too much of a need to overlook and Riley met with the Saints earlier in the offseason. Instead, New Orleans stayed patient and let Riley fall to them. That is something to praise, and there is a real chance Riley can compete for a starting spot in this CB room. It is also a perfect scenario because it is always risky to starter a rookie corner right away, so now, the Saints can have Riley in the 4th spot to start the season.
Grade: A
Round 6 (No. 184) – Devin Neal
Photo by Richard Rodriguez/Getty Images
I mentioned another pick being the steal of the draft and here it is. Devin Neal being available at 184 is shocked and the Saints took advantage of it. Throughout the draft, I was waiting for New Orleans to select one of the running backs in this top tier RB class. It took them awhile, but they got a steal by waiting. Neal is the perfect complement to Alvin Kamara’s game, can be used as a heavy workload RB, and pick up short yardage when needed. It is difficult to put real expectations/hope in a 6th round selection, but Neal has a chance of becoming the franchise’s RB 1.
Grade: A
Round 7 (No. 248) – Moliki Matavao
Photo by David Crane/MediaNews Group/Los Angeles Daily News via Getty Images
This pick is pretty straight forward. Moliki Matavao is a big, bodied TE who has some great catching ability and athleticism. Blocking is not a strength of his game, but will try to make a difference, even if it does not work. A good way of thinking about this pick is if the Saints used their 7th round pick in 2024 to draft TE Dallin Holker before undrafted free agency started last season.
Grade: B-
Round 7 (No. 254) – Fadil Diggs
Photo by Bryan Bennett/Getty Images
With the last selection of the Saints’ draft, it was a surprising one, but only because this player was still available. Fadil Diggs was not a player I expected to still be on the board by pick 254, let alone the 7th round. He is extremely athletic, has pass rush moves, and some positional flexibility. Diggs’ game is still raw, but there is so much potential there, and for a 7th round pick, taking a chance on his development is a great decision.
Grade: A-
THE FINAL GRADE
Photo by Gus Stark/LSU/University Images via Getty Images
In 2025 NFL Draft, the New Orleans Saints were able to attack some of the current and future needs, got a potential franchise QB, and stayed patient throughout the draft. For a team set to enter a multiple year rebuild, the first draft needs to raise the floor of the roster, and that is exactly what the Saints did.
Final Grade: B+
Make sure you follow Canal Street Chronicles on Twitter at @SaintsCSC, “Like” us on Facebook at Canal Street Chronicles, and make sure you’re subscribed to our YouTube channel. Follow my personal page @CalebYac for more!
