Every year, the NFL Draft is one of the most exciting parts of the football season…even though a game isn’t’ being played. The annual selection process determines whether an organization builds a long-term dynasty, or falls into extended periods of irrelevance. Front office executives face immense pressure to evaluate collegiate talent accurately…because critical mistakes can set rebuilding timelines back by an entire decade…or longer.

Teams rely heavily on the initial rounds to establish foundational pieces for their rosters, while maintaining financial flexibility against the salary cap. Missing on first round picks can damage future salary cap structures when a team has to sign free agents to make up the difference. Or they just take the loss, and don’t build until they have another top pick.

New Orleans Draft Trade Strategy

Saints management consistently relies on executing First Round trades to maneuver across the draft board. They completely sat out the first round three different times since the turn of the century due to this strategy.

A video board displays the text “ON THE CLOCK” for the New Orleans Saints (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images)

A video board displays the text “ON THE CLOCK” for the New Orleans Saints (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images)

This high-risk methodology also resulted in the organization holding multiple First Round picks. That’s happened on five separate occasions since 2000.

Oddly, the other consistent Saints draft strategy has been to avoid LSU players in the First Round. This established approach consistently involves avoiding ANY prospect from Louisiana State University at all costs…opting instead to take a lesser player at the same position, to trade the pick, or fill a different need.

Evaluating Historical Saints Draft Success

Judging success in the NFL Draft requires analyzing sustained production across multiple seasons. It makes no sense to give a team a “draft grade” before any of the players they selected get on a field. The Saints might have had an “A” or “B” grade over the last 26 years for a draft that turned out to generate no quality players in the first 2 or 3 rounds.

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If you look at all the First Rounds from the New Orleans Saints since 2000…have they been successful? Maybe Cameron Jordan or Mark Ingram could be considered successful picks? They established themselves as definitive foundational contributors…but did they justify their draft slot?

The Saints overall historical track record raises questions about the true effectiveness in the talent evaluation department. The complete timeline holds severe developmental volatility, rather than demonstrating a reliable method of consistent roster construction.

Every New Orleans Saints First Round NFL Draft Pick Since 2010