The New Orleans Saints landed big Clemson defensive tackle Bryan Bresee at No. 29 in the NFL draft, now it's time for the grades that don't really matter.
As always, analysts gave mixed reviews on the Saints' pick, though there was a bit more positivity than some other years. Of the 13 picks surveyed, 7 landed at B+ or better, and none came in below a C. The highest grade was an A.
The positive takes focused on the potential of Bresee and his ability as a run defender, while fitting a clear need. If you're looking on the negative side, it's typically a focus on the injury concerns that do very much exist and call it probably a bit of a reach for need.
Here's how all 13 grades broke down:
A: 2
A-: 2
B+: 3
B: 1
B-: 1
C+: 1
C: 2
Oh and, Average: 1 ... that's how PFF decided to do this. Don't ask me why.
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Scroll below for each grade and breakdowns.
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CBS SPORTS (Pete Prisco)
- Saints grade at 29: B+
- Why: “This is a need pick. They suffered some hits at defensive tackle in free agency, so they had to find help. Bresee had injuries and other things that held him back at Clemson, but he has a ton of talent. That will show up on the next level.”
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NFL DOT COM (Chad Reuter)
- Saints grade at 29: B-
- Why: “I’m not sure he will be an elite player, but Bresee is the sort of interior player the Saints needed. Hopefully he will be able to put some of the injury woes he dealt with in college behind him.”
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YAHOO! SPORTS (Charles McDonald)
- Saints grade at 29: C
- Why: “Bresee should pan out to be a quality starter, but it's fair to wonder if the Saints could have picked a more explosive option here.”
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BLEACHER REPORT (Brent Sobleski)
- Saints grade at 29: B+
- Why: “Bresee can immediately bring some explosivity to the group and regularly collapse the pocket. Again, he needs to remain healthy, but he has the talent of a top-10 prospect in this class. The Saints are taking a chance, but it's one well worth it late in the first round.”
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PRO FOOTBALL FOCUS (staff)
- Saints grade at 29: Average (that’s how they decided to do this … for some reason)
- Why: “A talented player on the defensive interior, Bresee is coming off a season during which he posted a career-high 82.0 PFF pass-rushing grade. He can play across multiple spots on the interior and even has experience playing outside the tackles.”
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THE RINGER (Danny Kelly)
- Saints grade at 29: A-
- Why: “This pick makes a ton of sense for a team that lost three defensive linemen. ... Bresee is long, he’s powerful, and he offers versatility to line up at multiple spots. He’s battled injuries over the past two years, but when he’s healthy, he can really disrupt the pocket.”
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THE SPORTING NEWS (Vinnie Iyer)
- Saints grade at 29: A
- Why: “The Saints got gutted at defensive tackle when starters … left for division rivals in free agency. This is a great pick and an upgrade given Bresee is such a reliable run stuffer with great untapped potential as a pass rusher.”
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FOR THE WIN (Robert Zeglinski)
- Saints grade at 29: A
- Why: “At the risk of sounding like a cliche, he will punch in, carry his hard hat and lunch pail with pride, and put in a good day’s work grinding out against guards and centers. The Saints are not in a position to be choosers. Dennis Allen needs solid youthful players and Bresee fits that bill.”
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DRAFTKINGS (Chet Gresham)
- Saints grade at 29: B
- Why: “Breese is a strong run defender, which is always a trait the Saints look for, but he can develop even more of a pass rush with his physical traits. This isn’t a home run pick, but at this point in the draft I like it for the Saints.”
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WALTER FOOTBALL (staff)
- Saints grade at 29: C
- Why: “It's not a surprise that they drafted Bryan Bresee with Myles Murphy off the board. However, this is a very questionable selection with Nolan Smith and Michael Mayer on the board. Bresee is a very talented player, but he didn't live up to expectations at Clemson, and he also has some major injury concerns.”
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FOX SPORTS (Rob Rang)
- Saints grade at 29: A-
- Why: “Bresee is among the most gifted big men in this draft with the kind of talent that'd garner top-10 consideration if medical red flags weren't so ominous. … I like this pick for the Saints, both in terms of the person and fit for a club that needed to add some bodies up front.”
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PRO FOOTBALL NETWORK (Ryan Gosling)
- Saints grade at 29: B+
- Why: “Bresee battled through adversity in 2022, but he came out the other side as a first-round pick. He can still improve his consistency as a run defender, but he has the tools to be a high-level pass-rushing threat on the interior, and his ability to quickly deconstruct blocks could be an asset at the next level.”
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THE 33RD TEAM (staff)
- Saints grade at 29: C+
- Why: “The New Orleans Saints needed to beef up their defensive line. … Bryan Bresee is a high-motor player who did not play as well later in his college career due to injuries. … He showed flashes of athleticism, power and eased some concerns by testing well at the combine. He has the ability to play multiple different spots on the defensive line and can be a productive player in the run game and pass rush.”
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