We’re closing in on the 2024 NFL draft, which is expected to be a critical juncture for the New Orleans Saints. If they can’t do a good job addressing their most important needs (with the few picks they own at the top of the draft), they’ll risk falling into a hole that’s almost impossible to climb back out of.
Fans saw firsthand how drafting poorly could set the team back in 2021. Lacking a quarterback and depth at wideout during Sean Payton’s last year as head coach (and, effectively, the organization’s top decision-maker) the Saints started their draft with a reach and finished it by rolling the dice on some ill-advised gambles. But they did manage to unearth some young talent along the way.
Conventional wisdom in the NFL says you need three years to thoroughly evaluate a draft class. The Saints’ 2021 crop is entering their fourth year in the pros now, so let’s take a look back and grade each selection:
Aug 13, 2023; New Orleans, Louisiana, USA; New Orleans Saints defensive end Payton Turner (98) looks on against the Kansas City Chiefs during the second half at the Caesars Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Lew-USA TODAY Sports
Turner’s Saints career started with controversy; not many fans knew who he was and each of the pass rushers picked immediately after him have had more successful careers. That he’s been benched for performance and also missed a lot of time to injuries is doubly unfortunate. He enjoyed the best training camp of his career last summer (without missing a single practice session) but suffered a season-threatening injury early in Week 1. That’s just bad luck. But Turner is going into Year 4 having played in just 15 games while bagging 3 sacks and 8 tackles for loss. Things could have gone worse for him, so far, but not by much. He’s competing for his roster spot in 2024. It’s been a terrible return for a first-round pick the Saints made with better players at the same position on the board.
Grade: D
GLENDALE, ARIZONA – OCTOBER 20: Keaontay Ingram #30 of the Arizona Cardinals carries the ball as Pete Werner #20 of the New Orleans Saints tackles during the 1st quarter of the game at State Farm Stadium on October 20, 2022 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Norm Hall/Getty Images)
It’s tough to fault Werner when you take a big-picture view of his career. He’s played 43 of 51 possible games since entering the league. His tackle numbers have risen year over…
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