When the Saints Draft Picks Come Marching in

Freshly Sainted

Finally, football season is upon us. Six-ish months of grueling, what's that word, "patience." Where fans are forced to occupy their time and space on Sunday afternoons and evenings with things such as chores, errands, and spending time with their family.

Buffalo wings, beers, and bros are replaced with obligatory trips to the farmers' market, visits with the mother-in-law, and the dreaded, "Hey, while you're out, do you mind grabbing _____," text that spirals one into an endless loop of self-loathing and regret. If the Lord himself was allowed to rest on the holiest of days, why not die-hard Saints fans? Now, that wait is over.

You've shouldered the harshness of yet another barbaric South Louisiana summer. You've sat idle at your favorite bar, half-empty beer in hand, staring blankly at the television situated in the corner and begging, praying, for something—anything to watch. The natural divot you've created in your preferred viewing area has flattened out and only the faint stains of assorted past meals remain. You've put in the time. You've earned this. Your Monday's no longer have to suck.

In New Orleans, football is religion. And the only thing bigger than football here is, well, religion. Saints fans sell out the Dome every Sunday regardless of what stage of the grieving process (denial) they're currently in. Champions Square is transformed into a one-of-a-kind tailgate where all are welcome. Darth Vader is strategically positioned on a nearby street corner, maniacally dancing to "Halftime" by the Ying Yang Twins unapologetically blasting from a speaker designed with the intent of occupying a large recording studio.

But who is this team? Did the offseason provide any answers to the many unresolved questions surrounding the future state of the franchise? Before you dust off your favorite game day black and gold, here's a kickoff refresher of the 2025 NFL Draft. New Orleans, you are on the clock.

Kelvin Banks Jr., OT / Texas (Round 1, Pick 9)

Mickey Loomis done did it again—literally. The Saints have picked an offensive or defensive lineman in the first round of the draft for the past 10 years; however, with Patrick out and Penning out in the near future, this was a necessity. Banks is the classic unsexy pick that fans have no other option but to get behind in hopes that he becomes a Saints mainstay.

Tyler Shough, QB / Louisville (Round 2, Pick 40)

Who? Kidding. Well, kind of. Sure, he had some not-so-good tape at the NFL combine that went viral. And, yes, no one has any idea on how to properly pronounce his name. But, most importantly, Shough didn't publicly out himself as going to Chipotle for his first meal in Louisiana. RIP Derek Carr. We hardly knew ye.

Vernon Broughton, DT/ Texas (Round 3, Pick 71)

We must be at Caesars 'cause the Saints are gambling. Broughton is big—like, big, big—coming in at 6'5", 311 lbs. The issue is that he's a late bloomer. He was a one-year starter at Texas, totaling four sacks in 16 games. The sample size is small, but it was enough for Loomis and the Saints to buy in. Also, he'll have a veteran group to lean on.

Jonas Sanker, S / Virginia (Round 3, Pick 93)

Is Round 3 too early to label a pick as a "steal?" Sanker is a stud. While the Saints don't necessarily have a need at this position, a dude this skilled is hard to pass by. A team captain at Virginia who led the ACC in tackles for the past two seasons and plays special teams? He has "Saint" written all over him.

Danny Stutsman, LB / Oklahoma (Round 4, Pick 112)

Sanker and Stutsman back-to-back signaled one thing to Saints fans everywhere—that they are committed to stepping up their run-stop defense, where they ranked second to last in the league, giving up 141 yards per game. Stutsman is reliable and durable, racking up 376 tackles in 37 games at Oklahoma.

Quincy Riley, CB / Louisville (Round 4, Pick 131)

Lattimore and Adebo are out, and the Saints need answers at corner and fast. Before transferring to Louisville, Riley was a first-team All-Conference USA player for Middle Tennessee State. Elite ball skills plus the ability to create turnovers and play all over the field made him a viable pick.

Devin Neal, RB / Kansas (Round 6, Pick 184)

A nice little addition to the running back room in the sixth round? Why the hell not? Neal rushed for 1,000+ yards every season for the past three seasons at Kansas—the first Jayhawk to ever accomplish that feat. The dude can play.

Moliki Matavao, TE / UCLA (Round 7, Pick 248 via Philadelphia Eagles)

A big body at a position that haunts the Saints with injuries to Hill and Moreau. Juwan Johnson, fresh off a well-deserved extension, can also get banged up from time to time. A lil' lagniappe here is just fine.

Fadil Diggs, DE /Syracuse (Round 7, Pick 254)

Diggs is a dog, and the Saints get some pass rushing depth to end this year's NFL Draft. Last year at Syracuse, he led the team in both tackles for a loss (14) and sacks (7.5) in their 4-3 defense. Brandon Staley, the new defensive coordinator for the Saints, will likely have the team in a 3-4 front—whatever. That's for him to figure out while we drink.