Hubbard’s Saints 2025 draft grades

New Orleans assembled a solid draft class this weekend.

The New Orleans Saints entered the draft with a whole lot of needs and a healthy number of picks. We thought there was a good chance Mickey Loomis would move up and waste some of those picks, but even he recognized they had more needs than in years past and stayed put for every one of his nine selections. Overall, it wasn’t a super exciting draft class, but it was a good and very necessary one.

Here are my grades for each pick:

Round 1, Pick 9 – Kelvin Banks, OT, Texas

I came into this draft wanting one of two things to happen: draft Ashton Jeanty or grab one of the top offensive tackles. They were able to accomplish that mission, but I think in my least favorite way possible.

I would’ve loved if somehow Will Campbell or Armand Membou fell to nine (I knew it wouldn’t have happened, but a man can hope), but what I really wanted to do was move back a few spots, pick up another top 100 pick, and grab Josh Conerly or Josh Simmons.

I don’t think this was a bad pick whatsoever. I like Banks, I think he’ll be a great asset moving forward, I just didn’t see too much of a difference between Conerly/Simmons and Banks, and I would’ve loved another top 100 pick. Still, great pick.

Grade: B+

Round 2, Pick 40 – Tyler Shough, QB, Louisville

A lot of people aren’t going to like me for the grade I’m going to give this pick, but here’s my reasoning:

The Saints got the guy they’ve loved since day one (or whenever they decided they liked him). According to a report by Jeff Duncan, they had him as their QB2, over someone like Jaxson Dart even. Kellen Moore fell in love with the prospect, and they didn’t have to give up any future assets to get him. That’s a great pick in my book.

Now, do I love the pick? I don’t really know yet. He has tools, there is absolutely no doubt about it. Watch some of his tape and tell me he doesn’t have some traits you want in a QB. However, he’s a bit injury prone – though a good thing is they’ve all been bone breaks, no ligaments or hamstrings or nagging injuries. He’s also turning 26 this year. Both of those aren’t ideal things.

I’m giving Moore the benefit of the doubt here. He was a quarterback and has worked with some of the best ones in the league. That coupled with the fact that they didn’t have to give up any assets to get him makes this a good pick in my eyes, even if I think there’s a chance, he’s not good. You have to take your shot with the QB position at some point, and if he sucks, they’re in position to get another one next year when the class is much better (as long as he’s the starter).

Grade: B+

Round 3, Pick 71 – Vernon Broughton, DT, Texas

This is my least favorite pick of the draft. I don’t hate the player; I just don’t like the spot they took him. Mickey Loomis said he thought Broughton might’ve gone in the second round, so it seems NFL teams were a bit higher on him than the fans and media were, so maybe it wasn’t as much of a reach as I thought, but I still don’t love it. Hope he proves me wrong.

Grade: C-

Round 3, Pick 93 – Jonas Sanker, S, UVA

My personal favorite pick of day two was the Saints’ final pick, Jonas Sanker.

The Saints had one goal in mind when it came to drafting defense this weekend: get better at defending the run. That’s what the Broughton pick was, and Sanker is one of the better run defending safeties in the draft. He’s also pretty solid in coverage, so all around, I felt this was a solid pick.

Grade: B+

Round 4, Pick 112 – Danny Stutsman, LB, Oklahoma

Onto my favorite pick of the draft, Danny Stutsman. This completely fits the whole get better at stopping the run idea. Stutsman was arguably the best run defender in the country regardless of position last year. He struggles in coverage quite a bit, but if he can develop into an average coverage backer, they’ll have Demario Davis’s replacement on the roster already. Love everything about this selection.

Grade: A+

Round 4, Pick 131 – Quincy Riley, CB, Louisville

I loved everything the Saints did on day three, and that includes drafting Quincy Riley. He was easily the best corner on the board at pick 131, and they didn’t hesitate to grab him. In three years at Louisville, Riley was ultra productive, allowing a sub-50% completion percentage and picking off eight passes. Again, can’t put enough emphasis on how much I loved this pick.

Grade: A

Round 6, Pick 184 – Devin Neal, RB, Kansas

Another day three pick, another high grade for the Saints. At 184, they selected one of the most productive running backs in the draft, Devin Neal.

In his final three seasons as a starter, Neal combined to rush for 3,636 yards and 41 touchdowns behind a 6.03 average. He was also a decent pass catcher, totaling 20+ receptions in each of those three seasons. He was easily the best RB left on the board, and the Saints wasted no time submitting the pick.

Grade: A

Round 7, Pick 248 – Moliki Matavao, TE, UCLA

I won’t pretend like I know a ton about Matavao, because I don’t. What I do know is that he got better every year in college and finished his senior season with 506 yards and a couple of touchdowns. He was also very good after the catch, averaging over 7 YAC per reception, per PFF.

What you don’t really get with Matavao is blocking. He earned a 54.6 pass blocking grade and a 56.3 run blocking grade last season. For a seventh rounder, he has the receiving numbers you want to see and he fills a position of need.

Grade: B

Round 7, Pick 254 – Fadil Diggs, DE, Syracuse

Now this is a good seventh round pick. Diggs was a four-year player for Texas A&M where he accumulated eight sacks and 54 pressures, but he transferred to Syracuse and had a massive senior season, totaling 7.5 sacks and 42 pressures in the ACC. He has the talent and production you want to see in the seventh round, but there were a couple other guys I may have taken over him.

Grade: A-

Overall

The Saints did a great job with this draft. They filled a lot of their needs; found the guy they believe can be their franchise quarterback and didn’t give up any future assets. There were certainly some things I think they could’ve done better, but a very solid class and one that could prove to be one of their better of the decade.

Grade: B+

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