Saints earn strong marks for 2023 NFL Draft Class

It was as if the New Orleans Saints made a quick trip to a local grocery store that had everything they needed in stock. Talent at defensive tackle, edge rusher, running back, wide receiver and more positions of need seemed to fall right into the laps of the Black and Gold in the 2023 NFL Draft.

So much so that even though they could not find trade partners in the first two days (even though they tried, according to head Dennis Allen), it felt like the Saints did not missed out on anything.

Let’s go pick-by-pick to break down why the 2023 NFL Draft class can be just another home run for assistant general manager and vice president of college personnel Jeff Ireland.

Round 1, Pick 29 – Bryan Bresee, DT Clemson

Bresee was the pick that just about every local media member expected for New Orleans. The team had a massive need at defensive tackle after the free agency departures of David Onyemata, Shy Tuttle and Kentavius Street. While they did keep the position stocked with talent thanks to the signings of veterans Khalen Saunders and Nathan Shepherd alongside the retention of Malcolm Roach, it was clear another body at the position was needed.

The 6-foot-5, 298 pounder joins the above group and Prince Emeli on a defensive interior that looks much better prepared to attack opposing quarterbacks than it did early in free agency.

Bresee’s stat sheet might be a little underwhelming at first glance with just 9.0 career sacks but his tape shows hints of the spectacular, and the context of his college performance overall is important regarding the adversity he has navigated these last few years.

A disruptive player on the field and a born leader off of it, Bresee is a talent and character fit. If he can navigate the medical history he brings to the NFL and remain available for the team, it is easy to imagine that he will be a stalwart for the team with the character necessary to even serve as captain someday.

Round 2, Pick 40 – Isaiah Foskey, EDGE, Notre Dame

If you have followed the Saints for even just a day, you probably know they have a prototype for their edge defenders. Big, tall, long and athletic. Foskey is all of that. At 6-foot-6 and 264 pounds with 34-inch arms, he is a perfect fit for the Saints’ mold at the position.

Add to that his Notre Dame all-time record 26.5 sacks with seven forced fumbles and four blocked punts and you have productivity few prospects at the position in this draft can match. The word “disruptive” just does not do Foskey enough justice.

Allen also believes that the edge defender’s speed will be a factor for the team’s ability to defend the perimeter against mobile quarterbacks. Foskey is also stout in the run game. Developing more of his pass rushing moves will likely be an early goal.

Foskey says he was speaking being picked by the Saints into existence for a while. He wanted to come to New Orleans after his early contact with their coaches at the Senior Bowl. Now he and the Saints get their wish.

Round 3, Pick 71 – Kendre Miller, RB, TCU

Another need checked off at a spot that ranked higher than some may have realized. Many of us here at Crescent City Sports believed the Saints would have been perfectly justified in taking a running back in the 2022 Draft, so it was great to see them invest this season. And they got a good one.

Many (including myself) wanted them to take Tulane back Tyjae Spears, but Miller was the player that made the most sense in terms of the Saints’ needs now and later at the position.

Miller is a bruising runner between the tackles who plays with patience and vision while also a threat to turn the corner on the perimeter and run away from defenders with his breakaway speed. Even though he did not get to do athletics testing this off-season while recovering from right MCL injury, Miller’s speed is undeniable on tape.

While he was rarely asked to catch passes in the Horned Frogs offense, his work in the screen game gives glimpses of what he could do more consistently in that phase of the game if tasked.

Miller compares his balance to current Saints star back Alvin Kamara and his play-style to that of Indianapolis Colts runner Jonathan Taylor. Not a bad pair of guys to model your game after.

Round 4, Pick 103 – Nick Saldiveri, OL, Old Dominion

A quick list of things the Saints love in their players gives context when it comes to the trade up for and selection of Saldiveri. Versatility, athleticism, high character and above-the-shoulders football IQ are paramount. Saldiveri emphatically checks all of those boxes.

While he has spent the majority of his career playing right tackle, he has also taken snaps at right guard and left tackle in collegiate action. The three-yesr college starter also played center at the Senior Bowl, a position where the all-star game’s executive director Jim Nagy says may be his best.

The Saints see him as an interior lineman initially but do understand that his versatility is a premium asset. Saldiveri becomes even more important for the Saints with starting guards Andrus Peat and Cesar Ruiz in contract years, assuming Ruiz’s fifth-year option is not picked up after the weekend.

So, adding Saldiveri is a wise move by New Orleans who may be looking for a new starting guard as early as next year. And hey, adding depth on the line is never a bad move. The rash of injuries the Saints have encountered up front as of late backs up that premise.

Round 4, Pick 127 – Jake Haener, QB, Fresno State

Saints starting quarterback Derek Carr is his mentor, former franchise passer Drew Brees is his favorite player and the Saints were his childhood favorite team. It is almost like this pick was destined to happen.

The connections do not end there either. Saints quarterbacks coach and pass-game coordinator Ronald Curry was the offensive coordinator who worked with Haener in Mobile at The Senior Bowl. So did offensive assistant DJ Williams who served as Haener’s position coach for the collegiate all-star game in which the former Bulldog earned MVP honors.

Haener gets to work with his mentor in Carr and profiles as a potential long-term backup for the franchise. If the just under 6-foot quarterback impresses beyond that, it would be a massive win for the Saints. The Athletic’s draft expert Dane Brugler ranked Haener is his sixth best quarterback in this year’s class.

Round 5, Pick 146 – Jordan Howden, S, Minnesota

Standing at 5-foot-11 and just over 200 pounds, the versatile defensive back is a prototypical safety prospect for the next level. His role in New Orleans could already be carved out.

Howden is an experienced free safety, consistently forcing quarterbacks to move beyond him in their progressions, but his best role may be in the slot. He has played over 200 snaps as a nickel defender in each of the last three years. Key for a Day 3 pick, the former walk-on has also logged over 500 special teams snaps in his career.

That sets Howden up to have an immediate path to the roster as a special teamer and a potential successor to veteran slot cornerback Bradley Roby.

Another highlight in Howden’s game is that he is a very reliable tackler, something the Saints would love to add to their defense. It is not worth overlooking his ability to back up the deep safety role, but the slot looks like an area to which he is going to be able to comfortably transition at the next level.

Round 6, Pick 198 – A.T. Perry, WR, Wake Forest

Perry was a mock draft darling for Saints fans. A 6-foot-3 and 198 pounds with 4.47 speed and outstanding athleticism, Perry is a promising prospect even as a sixth-round selection.

A proven college commodity, Perry had enormous amounts of production in Winston-Salem with 2,662 receiving yards and 28 career touchdown receptions. He has spent the majority of his career lined up on the outside and on the line of scrimmage as an X-receiver but he wants to be able to contribute from the slot as well.

Allen said that they were keeping an eye on Perry as he tumbled down the draft boards and eventually found a trade to move them into position to acquire him. The trade sent another player, tight end Adam Trautman, to the Denver Broncos.

Perry is a nuanced route runner with the potential to contribute significantly as a rookie.

All-in-all, New Orleans did an excellent job addressing their biggest needs but they did open up another position that could still use some attention. Tight end on the depth shart looks rather thin after trading away Trautman.

To come out of the draft with their remaining needs as tight end and linebacker depth is undoubtedly deserving of high praise.