B-
New Orleans Saints
The Saints checked most of the boxes and earned a B-.
by skaarman ·
2026 NFL Draft
· 8 picks
· 1 steals
· 4 reaches
The Saints' one glaring miss is edge rusher, a need they left exactly as they found it.
They banked enough surplus on Slaughter to cover a lot of smaller sins. If Prysock pans out, nobody remembers the price. If not, this is the pick they hear about.
A tidy weekend of work that should hold up just fine.
Pick-by-Pick
In the Round 1 slot they get a three-down second-level presence at fair value. Need was not the driver here.
A straight-up fair deal on Chris Bell at the 42nd pick, value and slot in agreement. A glaring weakness, addressed head on.
Jake Slaughter slid further than he should have, and No. 73 is lovely value for the offensive lineman. Better still, it is exactly the hole they had to fill.
Chris McClellan at slot 132 is a conviction pick that outran the value. One more legitimate question on the roster, answered.
Kaytron Allen at Round 4, Pick 36 is a clear overpay, with better names still on the board. It patches a soft spot without any drama.
Malik Benson in pick 150 is fine work, a shade of surplus and no downside. A must-fix position, and they treated it like one.
A big swing on Ephesians Prysock at the 172nd overall pick, well ahead of any board in the building. The one spot they could not leave alone, and did not.
The board had cheaper options than Dallen Bentley at pick No. 190, and it noticed. A need, and now a little less of one.