The first round always gets the most attention in the offseason, and is believed to be the most talented round. In the Saints case however, a lot of their talent on the roster is found in a later round in the draft. Not to say the first round doesn’t provide value for the Saints.
So if not the first round, then what round have the Saints been the most successful in finding star players?
We will look at the last 9 picks from each round and calculate the success rate of each round.
After reviewing 9 picks from each round for the Saints here is what we know; the first round history has been rocky for the Saints. Lattimore and Ramczyk are the big names from the first round for the Saints. Everyone else was either a bust (Marcus Davenport/Stephone Anthony, etc) or they had some contributions with the Saints. With 9 first round picks in 7 years, only 2/9 made the pro bowl, Lattimore and Peat (with the snub of Ramczyk). When calculating the players clue for the Saints and success it leads to a success rate of about 50%. Ruiz is still to young to determine if he’s a bust or not so we put him as an unknown which is why it’s 50%.
For the second round in the Draft, the Saints have found Michael Thomas, Marcus Williams, and Erik McCoy. Tracy Porter and Roman Harper are some other names that came from the second round. When you add up the value of each player from their time on the Saints, it puts them statistically at a 55% success rate in the second round.
The third round is where the Saints tend to do the best based on recent years. Only two players from the third round have attended the pro bowl: Alvin Kamara and Terron Armstead. This seems ugly, but players like P.J. Williams, Trey Hendrickson, Alex Anzalone, Tre’Quan Smith, Adam Trautman, and Zack Baun were all third round picks. All these players contributed value for the Saints at one point for the most part. When doing the math and how each player contributed value towards the Saints, that would put the third round at a success rate of 72%. Trautman is similar to Ruiz, we know he can be a star, but it’s too early to tell.
Fourth round picks haven’t been too exciting, except for Chauncey and Onyemata. Jahri Evans and Jermon Bushrod came from the fourth as well. The value of each player’s time with the Saints has a success rate of 44% in the fourth round.
In the fifth round, the biggest name was Thomas Morestead with Kenny Stills being a valuable player at one point. That gives the fifth round a success rate of 33% after adding up everyone’s value.
The sixth round consisted of almost nobody of value for the Saints. Boston Scott is a good play, but didn’t provide value for the Saints. Out of the last nine, sixth round picks the success rate would be basically 0%.
The seventh round consisted of good depth and special teams players which count as value for the team. The seventh round has a success rate of 22%.
Based on the last nine picks from each round, the third round is the most productive for the Saints with a success dre of 77%.
Please let me remind you that this is based off of the last nine players drafted in each round and how they contributed to the Saints.
Written By Kadin Janisch
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