Saints Rookie Class Could Be Game-Changer New Orleans Needs
The New Orleans Saints have played 10 games so far this season and there are some reasons for optimism for the future of the franchise.
Now, there are obviously salary cap questions coming after the season and there are some veterans who may not be with the team any longer when the 2025 season ends. But, New Orleans' 2025 draft class has a shot at being transformational for the team.
Let's take a look at the draft class and evaluate key takeaways.
Round 1: OT Kelvin Banks Jr.
Round 2: QB Tyler Shough
Round 3: DL Vernon Broughton
Round 3: S Jonas Sanker
Round 4: LB Danny Stutsman
Round 4: CB Quincy Riley
Round 6: RB Devin Neal
Round 7: TE Moliki Matavao
Round 7: Edge Fadil Diggs
Let's start with the guys difficult to evaluate. Vernon Broughton has played in just one game, Moliki Matavao has played in three games, and Fadil Diggs has played in four games. Diggs and Matavao are on the practice squad and Broughton is out for the season.
Banks, Shough, Sanker, Stutsman, Riley, and Neal all have shown a lot of promise for the future as well. Banks has started all 10 games for the Saints and looks like the left tackle of the future. He has a 68.3 PFF grade, good for 32nd out of 76 tackles.
The Saints' draft class is looking good right now
Shough has started just two games so far this season and had one of the best games by a Saints rookie in team history in Week 10 against the Carolina Panthers. He actually became the first Saints rookie quarterback to win a game since 1981, so that's nice.
Sanker has played in all 10 games, including nine starts. The Saints' safety room took a hit with Julian Blackmon getting hurt. Sanker has filled in well and has one interception and has held opposing quarterbacks to a 55 percent completion rate.
Stutsman has played in all 10 games and has been solid linebacker depth. He has 28 tackles on the season.
Riley has been involved in all 10 games, including two starts. He has an interception and has held opposing quarterbacks to a 60 percent completion rate.
Neal had his best game as a pro against the Panthers with 22 rushing yards and three catches. That's not eye-popping, but his role just increased over the last few weeks with Kendre Miller out.
This draft class starts with Banks and Shough. Both look like the real deal so far. But, on top of that, the Saints could've found a starting safety, cornerback, linebacker, and eventual Alvin Kamara replacement. That's what should have fans excited.
Nick Sirianni addresses claim that Jalen Hurts and AJ Brown went rogue
Philadelphia Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni was asked on Wednesday about two of his star players supposedly going rogue at a crucial moment in the team’s Week 10 win over the Green Bay Packers.
The Eagles were leading 10-7 and had a 4th-and-6 with 33 seconds remaining in their game against the Packers at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wis. Sirianni made the surprising decision to go for it on fourth down at the Packers 35-yard line. The play call was even more puzzling, as Jalen Hurts attempted a low-percentage deep pass to A.J. Brown that fell incomplete.
After the game, ESPN’s Scott Van Pelt asked DeVonta Smith about the fourth-down call. Smith seemed to suggest that the play call came from Hurts and Brown, not Sirianni.
“Whatever (Hurts) and (Brown) want to do, if that’s what they call and that’s what they wanna do, we rolling with it,” Smith said.
Philadelphia radio host Bill Colarulo then reported on Tuesday that Hurts and Brown “went rogue” with the play call on 4th-and-6.
Sirianni addressed the situation during his media availability on Wednesday. He seemed annoyed at the suggestion that his players overruled him. The coach emphatically repeated the same response twice.
“I knew exactly what the play was that we were calling and that was run in that moment,” Sirianni said.
There is a big difference between recognizing the play and calling it yourself, and it seemed like Sirianni intentionally stopped short of saying the deep throw was his decision.
Brown has seemed frustrated with the Eagles all season, as he is not being given the opportunity to produce like a Pro Bowl wide receiver. Philadelphia is 7-2 and looks like a legitimate Super Bowl contender, but Brown made some comments in a live stream on Wednesday night that got fans buzzing again.
There have been reports in the past of tension between Hurts and Sirianni. Most of those came before the Eagles won the Super Bowl. Even if Hurts did call an audible on the 4th-and-6 play, the Eagles won the game. That is probably all his coach cares about.
