The New Orleans Saints have eight picks in the NFL Draft, at least for now.
Mickey Loomis made it pretty clear that his team feels the ammunition to move around in the 2023 NFL Draft, though probably not anywhere high in the first round.
The draft kicks off at 7 p.m. (central) on Thursday for Round 1. The draft will continue with Rounds 2 and 3 on Friday, then conclude with Rounds 4-7 throughout the day on Saturday. Follow all the action live on WWL in the player below, and scroll below for live analysis of each pick, which will be updated as the draft progresses. Bookmark this page and return throughout the weekend for the latest content and analysis.
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THURSDAY
ROUND 1, pick 29: Bryan Bresee, DT, Clemson
- Notes: The only question here was whether Bresee would still be on the board when the Saints picked at No. 29. He was, with former teammate Myles Murphy going to the Bengals a pick earlier. Bresee fills a clear need, and the Saints didn't have to trade up to get it done. Win win. If Bresee’s health holds up, this was the right move.
This was my mock draft pick, so I like it ... but it's hard not to think Murphy would've been the preference. Not being able to swing a trade in the first round of a draft that featured a record 43 trades prevented that from happening. That’s the only thing knocking this grade down a bit.
- Snap grade: B+
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FRIDAY
ROUND 2, pick 40: Isaiah Foskey, DE, Notre Dame
- Notes: This was a popular pick in my mock drafts for a reason, he just made a ton of sense. Long arms, athletic, team leader, productive in college ... and yes, he was at the Senior Bowl. The Saints needed to restock a defensive line that was anything but a strength a season ago, they've done exactly that in the top 40 picks this season.
I've been talking about Foskey in our mocks all offseason, so it's pretty obvious that I was going to like this one. What puts it over the top is you just went through a season devoid of turnovers far too often. Foskey not only is the Notre Dame career leader for sacks, he’s forced 7 fumbles over the past two season.
- Snap grade: A
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ROUND 3, pick 71: Kendre Miller, RB, TCU
- Notes: The last time the Saints brought in a third-round running back, it worked out pretty well (that'd be Alvin Kamara). Miller provides much-needed depth, even if he'll likely be the odd man out when both Kamara and Jamaal Williams are available. Still, there was a need for youth at the position, and he'll get plenty of work if and when Kamara gets suspended. He didn't do a ton in the passing game at TCU, but he's still capable in that regard. This might have been a bit early, but I don't blame the Saints for wanting to get RB sorted out on Day 2.
I personally was hoping Tank Dell would land with the Saints, but this is another one of my mock selections (though I waited until Round 4). The knee injury doesn't scare the Saints, but it does leave me a bit leery. I also feel like there were a lot of intriguing options on the board, and a surplus of RBs. The value might have been a bit off.
- Snap grade: B+
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SATURDAY
TRADE! ROUND 4, pick 103 (sent 115 & 167 to Bears): Nick Saldiveri, OL, Old Dominion
- Notes: Sitting and waiting never sits well with the Saints, and after trying unsuccessfully to swing a trade, they pulled it off to start the 4th round. The pick wasn't splashy, but it did fill a clear need. You can ask, why not Anthony Bradford? But I'd ask: If he didn't play at LSU, what exactly is the sales pitch? Because I can assure you the Saints don't care if he played in Baton Rouge. Nick is athletic, it's likely he can shift into guard to provide depth at a position of need, and the Saints got a good look at him at the Senior Bowl. We're a decade removed from the Saints landing a pretty good OT out of Arkansas Pine-Bluff in the mid rounds (that's Terron Armstead). They're not scared off by the small school label if they see the talent, and that's what they do here. It might not have the name recognition, but it's another intriguing pick that I'm interested to see work at camp.
I don't hate the pick, but it's certainly not flashy at a spot where some really intriguing names were still available.
- Snap grade: B-
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TRADE! ROUND 4, PICK 127 (sent 227, 2024 4th to Bears): Jake Haener, QB, Fresno State
Notes: A highly productive team leader who went to the Senior Bowl? If you haven't developed a trend by now, that's on you. The mid rounds is always where it made sense to go nab a QB, and the Saints did it with conviction by grabbing a Fresno State QB to learn from another Fresno State legend in Derek Carr. You can gripe with some of the value, but Jameis Winston is on a 1-year deal, and now is the time to start developing a player that can not only potentially serve as a backup for Carr beyond this season, but possibly contend to start in the future. Haener is a heady player with a good arm. He consistently showed up in big moments in college, he was even the Senior Bowl MVP. The Saints addressed needs with their first four picks, with this one they got depth at the most important position.
- Snap grade: B+
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ROUND 5, pick 146: Jordan Howden, S, Minnesota
- Notes: The Saints needed to get younger on the back end and this is a good start. Howden profiles as more of a special teamer, and he's got plenty of experience doing that. The lack of short area speed is concerning, but being a centerfielder in a two-deep scheme is often more about instincts and awareness than flat-out speed. That's where I think you're looking to work him in if he does get to the rotation. He's also got good size (6 feet, 203 pounds) and might be an option to develop at the nickel spot if he can improve as a tackler.
- Snap grade: B
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TRADED to Bears: ROUND 5, pick 165
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TRADE! ROUND 6, pick 195 (sent Adam Trautman, pick 257 to Broncos): A.T. Perry, WR, Wake Forest
- Notes: The Saints needed a red zone weapon and a contested catches guy. They could also use some Michael Thomas insurance with his health anything but a guarantee. They got that in A.T. Perry, who referenced some "character concerns" that hurt his value, but certainly didn't display any. He was a touchdown magnet at Wake Forest. He'll have an uphill battle to win a spot on a crowded roster, but it still fits exactly what the Saints needed on a busy day of dealing and drafting.
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Snap grade: A-
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TRADED to Jaguars: ROUND 7, pick 227
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TRADED to Broncos: ROUND 7, pick 257
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MORE DRAFT NOTES
Here's a reminder of some info about the Saints in the NFL draft:
2021 SELECTIONS
- 1.11: WR Chris Olave, Ohio State
- 1.19: LT Trevor Penning, N. Iowa
- 2.49: CB Alontae Taylor, Tennessee
- 5.161: LB D'Marco Jackson, App. State
- 6.194: DT Jordan Jackson, Air Force
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PAST 10 FIRST ROUND PICKS
- 2022: 11, WR Chris Olave; 19, LT Trevor Penning
- 2021: 28, DE Payton Turner
- 2020: 24, G/C Cesar Ruiz
- 2019: No pick
- 2018: 14, DE Marcus Davenport
- 2017: 11, CB Marshon Lattimore; 32, RT Ryan Ramczyk
- 2016: 12, DT Sheldon Rankins
- 2015: 13, G Andrus Peat
- 2014: 20, WR Brandin Cooks
HISTORY AT NO. 29
- 1981: DB Russell Gary, Nebraska
- 1973: DT Derland Moore, Oklahoma
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