B
New Orleans Saints
The steal of the weekend belongs to the Saints and Ponds: B.
by Dickson ·
2026 NFL Draft
· 8 picks
· 3 steals
· 1 reaches
Call it larceny. D'Angelo Ponds sat on the board until Round 3, Pick 9, and the Saints did not need to be asked twice. It does the job without flash, and the B reflects it.
For all the activity, edge rusher went untouched, which is hard to explain. Bernard has a lot of ground to make up just to look fairly priced.
In sum, a sturdy weekend with one asterisk, the edge rusher spot they never got to.
Pick-by-Pick
In slot 8 they get a workhorse for the backfield at fair value. A clean fit for the roster.
A reach for Germie Bernard in the 42nd pick; a little patience would have been rewarded. It also answers one of the loudest questions on the roster.
Somehow D'Angelo Ponds was still sitting there in the Round 3 slot, and they pounced on premier cornerback value. Top of the wish list, and they did not leave without it.
They paid sticker price for Parker Brailsford in No. 132, and that is fine. A glaring weakness, addressed head on.
Eli Raridon in pick 136 is exactly on the number, no argument either way. A sensible fit for a spot that needed help.
Chris McClellan slid further than he should have, and pick No. 150 is lovely value for the interior defensive lineman. The roster fit checks out.
Kage Casey is a better player than the 172nd overall pick suggests; smart patience, rewarded. This was priority one on the needs board, and now it is handled.
A tidy little value on DJ Campbell in Round 6, Pick 9, a step better than break-even. A must-fix position, and they treated it like one.