Saints' 2025 draft class, featuring a potential franchise QB and elite left tackle, earns top NFL analyst praise for immediate impact.
Some have long been of the belief that New Orleans Saints (6-11) had a franchise-altering draft in 2025. The draft class gave the team both a franchise quarterback and left tackle in Tyler Shough and Kelvin Banks Jr.
Finding an elite player at one of the two cornerstone positions is a monumental feat in any draft. That the Saints appear to have secured both positions for the foreseeable future after one season is astounding.
ESPN analyst Aaron Schatz appears to agree with the above notions. He wrote the following of the Saints' rookie class.
"The Saints' rookie class is headlined by second-round quarterback Tyler Shough, who ranked 21st with a 49.2 QBR in nine starts," ESPN's Aaron Schatz wrote. "That's not quite "the Saints are set for years" territory, but Shough has certainly earned the right to come back and try to improve as the starter. (Just remember that he's already 26 years old.) Shough's blind side was protected by first-round left tackle Kelvin Banks Jr., who started all 17 games. He ranked above average in run block win rate (75.6 percent), although he was below average in pass block win rate (87.7 percent).
"Then we go to the defensive side of the ball, where the Saints improved to a surprising 13th in defensive DVOA this season. In Ben Solak's All-Rookie team, he highlighted third-round pick Jonas Sanker as a premier communicator and coverage player who made plays from sideline to sideline. Fourth-rounder Quincy Riley, the team's third cornerback, was above average in my coverage DVOA metric and started five games. Another fourth-round pick, linebacker Danny Stutsman, didn't start any games but had 53 combined tackles. Next season, the Saints will also get back third-round defensive tackle Vernon Broughton, who suffered a season-ending hip injury in Week 2."
New Orleans Saints quarterback Tyler Shough (6) runs the ball during the game against the Atlanta Falcons during the second half at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.Dale Zanine-Imagn ImagesThe Saints are set up to legitimately contend for the NFC South in 2026 after finishing the season with four wins in their final five games and ending the season two games out of first place despite a 2-10 start.
While the Tampa Bay Buccaneers may return back to winning ways with Baker Mayfield at quarterback and the Carolina Panthers and Atlanta Falcons have momentum, there's reason to believe that the Saints could close the gap and even surpass their division rivals. And it's all because of the improvements the team made with its rookie class.
The Saints will look to follow a great draft last offseason with another in