NEWSLETTER
The New Orleans Saints finished 2023 with a winning record but there was no partying in the French Quarter for them. At just 9-8, the Saints failed to make the playoffs for the second straight season under Dennis Allen making 2024 a possible make-or-break year for him. After a busy offseason, the New Orleans Saints still have a significant amount of holes to fill so let’s dive into their top 5 priorities during the 2024 NFL Draft.
New Orleans Saints Positions to Address in the NFL Draft
As mentioned, the Saints have struggled to breach the ceiling of mediocrity over the last few years. They have been one of the more talented teams in the league on paper but haven’t parlayed that into on-field performance. This offseason has seen a lot of roster turnover because of their salary cap situation which makes this NFL Draft as important as ever. Here are the positions they should address during it.
Offensive Line
The Saints had a mediocre, if not poor offensive line in 2023 where they ranked outside the top half of the NFL in overall grade. They’re returning four-fifths of their starting line from last season and signed Oli Udoh in free agency to fill the void left by the departure of Andrus Peat. Youth and potential are of the utmost importance on the offensive line for New Orleans.
Defensive Line
New Orleans was good on defense overall last year but their defensive line struggled to create pressure and defend the run. They graded out as the 20th overall unit and lost more than they’ve gained during free agency. Chase Young was brought in to help their bottom five pass rush but only on a 1-year deal. The Saints need to get younger and more skilled here.
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Cornerback
This is understandably not a spot of great need but the Saints could really use some depth here. The trio of Marshon Lattimore, Alontae Taylor, and Paulson Adebo is really strong but with Lonnie Johnson and Isaac Yiadom signing elsewhere during free agency, only a couple of undrafted players on reserve contracts are behind them. New Orleans would be wise to add depth at cornerback.
Running Back
The Saints have a crowded and very skilled backfield with Alvin Kamara, Jamaal Williams, and Kendre Miller. That said, the rumors surrounding Kamara’s future with the team are always present, and none of these guys played more than 13 games last year. Both Kamara and Williams are approaching the RB age dead zone of 30 and Miller may never return to form following his senior season injury at TCU. A late-round dart at RB makes some sense for the Saints.
New Orleans Saints Offseason Additions
The New Orleans Saints have been busy this offseason trying to cut salary and add depth to an aging roster. That didn’t prevent them from bringing in plenty of potential contributors though. Below are their most impactful offseason moves to date.
New Orleans Saints 2024 NFL Draft Picks
The New Orleans Saints have nine picks in the upcoming NFL Draft but just two over the first four rounds. Their first selection is the 14th overall pick of the first round. See all their draft spots below.
