The New Orleans Saints made some smart moves in the 2024 NFL Draft, addressing some key deficiencies and adding depth on both sides of the ball. With a trade with Green Bay in the second round for the 41st overall pick and a huge value play in the sixth round, the Saints put together what is arguably the best NFL Draft class in the NFC South. Dennis Allen and the entire Saints organization should be commended for their strategy and execution.
Round 1 (Pick 14) – Taliese Fuaga, OT, Oregon State
Grade: A+
The Saints addressed an immediate need in the first of the 2024 NFL Draft. With the timing of Ryan Ramczyk’s return uncertain as he recovers from knee surgery, Fuaga will be able to step in right away and make an immediate difference. Fuaga is 6’6″ and tips the scales at 324 lbs. He has tremendous range and power and was a PAC-12 standout and a semifinalist for the Lombardi Trophy.
Round 2 (Pick 41) – Kool-Aid McKinstry, CB, Alabama
Grade: B+
After a trade up with Green Bay, the Saints moved up four spots to pick up Ga’Quincy “Kool-Aid” McKinstry at 41st overall. McKinstry was an elite performer in an elite conference, and he has proven skills as a playmaker and as a reliable DB.
McKinstry will join Marshon Lattimore and Paulson Adebo on one of the most effective squads in the league. He will need some fine tuning for the NFL game, but he will surely be in rotation relatively early in the 2024 season.
Round 5 (Pick 150) – Spencer Rattler, QB, South Carolina
Grade: A
Foregoing a fourth round pick in the NFL Draft, the Saints were lucky to snap up Spencer Rattler in the 5th. There were rumblings of Rattler going in the third or even second round after showing flashes of greatness at South Carolina. He’s not quite ready to be a starter, but with some tutelage from Derk Carr and the coaching staff, he will grow into a capable backup and possible replacement for Derek Carr if his play falls short.
Round 5 (Pick 170) – Bub Means, Pittsburgh
Grade: B-
Bub Means was a curious choice at this stage in the NFL Draft with Malik Washington still on the board. While Washington is the more polished of the two receivers, his smaller stature may not be what the Saints are looking for. Means, on the other hand, is 6’2″ and 222 lb., a formidable size for any DB to face. Perhaps the Saints are looking to develop another big, rangy receiver to overcome DB’s with height and strength. Time will tell.
Round 5 (Pick 175) – Jaylan Ford, LB, Texas
Grade: C
With journeyman LB DeMario Davis still anchoring this already deep and talented squad, Jaylan Ford was another questionable choice. While his size and athleticism are impressive, he’s a seemingly unneeded addition to squad that has already shown its capability in years past.
One has to wonder if a solid edge rusher like Cedric Johnson from Ole Miss might have been a better choice. Johnson’s edge-setting speed and quick hands could have been a great addition to a squad that needed some depth.
Round 6 (Pick 199) – Khristian Boyd, DT, Northern Iowa
Grade: A+
This may have been the best value pick of the entire 2024 NFL Draft. At 6’2″ and 329 pounds, Boyd has the sheer mass and the power to knock any offensive lineman back. His relatively squat build and low center of gravity allow him to get leverage on taller O-linemen. He also shows flashes of explosive speed and his motor doesn’t let up. Boyd addresses an immediate need and should see action early in 2024. Kudos to the Saints on this one.
Round 7 (Pick 239) – Josiah Ezirim, OT, Eastern Kentucky
Grade: B+
With their final pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, the Saints chose 329 lb. OT Josiah Ezirim from Eastern Kentucky. Ezirim was part of an elite offensive line at EKU his junior year, helping them rank third in the nation in passing offense, fifth in third down conversions and tenth in total offense per game. Ezirim brings more much needed help to the offensive line, and it’s fitting that the Saints ended the 2024 NFL Draft in the same way they started.
NFL Draft Overall Grade: B+
Although the Saints had a couple of questionable picks in the 2024 NFL draft, they did succeed in picking up their “must-haves” as well as adding some youth and depth in areas that desperately needed it. And, the addition of Spencer Rattler may just light a fire under Derek Carr to step up his game next season.
The addition of two solid offensive tackles will hopefully go a long way toward curing the Saints’ pass rush woes, seen so often last season. With a beefed up O-line and some much needed help in other key areas, we could watch the Saints go marching into the playoffs later this year.
For More Great Content
Check out all the great content Total Apex Sports has to offer. Check us out on X @TotalApexSports and our other sites: Total Apex Sports Bets and Total Apex Fantasy Sports. To see more of Andrew Lazzara’s work, click here.