The New Orleans Saints needed to add youth to their roster with their cap situation, and their 2024 draft grades show their immediate starters. It wasn’t the most fun draft class, but it will pay the bills in 2024 and beyond.
New Orleans Saints 2024 Draft Grades
First Round (Pick 14) Taliese Fuaga, OT, A
Tackles flew off the board early, but the Saints got their hands on the best run blocker in the class. Fuaga is a Saints player. He has a mean streak to back up some solid fundamentals, and will immediately slot in as a starter for the team for the next two years at the least. He ended a wild run on offensive players in the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft.
Second Round (Pick 41) Kool-Aid McKinstry, CB, A+
The concerns about McKinstry have been overblown. He’s a physical corner with the length to shut down bigger receivers in the league (read, Mike Evans). He needs to work on being a little less handsy, but there’s a reason he was one of the least targeted players in the NCAA even playing across from another first round pick.
Fifth Round (Pick 150) Spencer Rattler, QB, A+
There was serious buzz about Rattler as a day two selection. Instead there was a historic fall for quarterbacks after the top six. He might lack in size, but Rattler makes up for it in arm talent and excitement. He’s a plus level backup with the chops to fill in if Carr is benched for injury or play level.
Fifth Round (Pick 170) Bub Means, WR, D+
If the Saints wanted to add a difference maker at receiver, they waited far too long. It was hard for them with no picks on day two, but Means is a Shaheed clone without the fluidity who will have to make his meals on special teams.
Fifth Round (Pick 175) Jaylan Ford, LB, B
Ford would be gold in 1995. He’s a run stopping defensive player with a nose for the football. Unfortunately his worst games came against Alabama and Oklahoma, while his best games came against lower levels of competition. Maybe he can develop as a pass protector, but right now he’s a liability out there.
Sixth Round (Pick 199) Khristian Boyd, DT, C+
He’s a smaller school prospect who is as strong as they come. He’s a depth piece at best. Boyd struggles against combo blocks and reaches, which is a problem against some of the rushing attacks in the conference. His arm length and explosiveness also make it hard to see a path to utility on special teams.
Seventh Round (Pick 239) Josiah Ezirim, OT, B
Ezirim is a small school prospect with a ton of snaps played but only two years of experience. COVID robbed him of a year of development that would have really helped, and he has a long way to go just to make the roster. At this point in the draft, any player that makes a roster is a win, and there’s definitely a path for Ezirim.
Main Photo Credit: Darren Yamashita-USA TODAY Sports
