Remember when life was great being a New Orleans Saints fan? Perennial contenders with a record-setting quarterback and a head coach who had helped turn the franchise around, what could go wrong?
Well, unless you’ve been living under a rock, you know something pretty big went wrong. So wrong that the Saints are without their head coach, have an un-signed franchise QB, and possible suspensions on the horizon.
So let’s take our minds off of what is ahead for New Orleans, and give them a chance to reflect on the past as we put their 2008 to 2010 draft classes through the Draft Grader. You know the drill: every pick gets a grade between +2.0 and -2.0 (in 0.5 increments) that depends upon:
• Where they were drafted
• Their performance
• Their contribution (how many snaps their team got out of them)
• Other factors such as unforeseen injuries and conditions that could not have been accounted for
Let’s take a look at how the Saints drafted.
+2.0: You’ve just found Tom Brady in the 6th round
No need with Drew Brees on the roster.
+1.5: Getting much more than you bargained for!
Carl Nicks, G (164th overall pick in 2008): Just how does a player as talented as Nicks fall to the 164th pick of any draft? A starter since Day 1, and a fine one at that, Nicks has picked up an incredible +101.9 grade in his four years with the Saints. The best guard in the league over that period.
Jimmy Graham, TE (95th overall pick in 2010): A true difference-making tight end, Graham was a complete mismatch that defenses were unable to cope with in 2011. Sure he can’t block, but picked up our second-highest receiving grades of all tight ends. Tremendous value in the third, as his 1,310 yards and 11 touchdowns highlight.
+1.0: The scouts nailed it!
They’ll settle for two +1.5’s.
+0.5: Never hurts to find a solid contributor
Thomas Morstead, P (164th overall pick in 2009): If you’re going to draft a punter, they need to be a good one. The Saints achieved that, getting a guy who is also one of the league’s top kick-off legs. Finished in the Top 10 of our punter rankings the past two years.
Patrick Robinson, CB (32nd overall pick in 2010): Looked decent in limited action as a rookie, and then earned a starting spot throughout the 2011 season. Doesn’t get an awful lot of press, but Saints were comfortable with him starting enough to ignore the CB spot in their recent free agency splurge on defenders. Earned a +6.0 grade last season.
0.0: It could have been worse
Tracy Porter, CB (40th overall pick in 2008): He’ll always have that Super Bowl interception, but Porter never really delivered on the potential and promise he showed. There were good times, but it’s telling that the Saints were happy for him to go after he earned a demotion in 2011.
DeMario Pressley, DT (144th overall pick in 2008): 187 snaps isn’t exactly a great return on a fifth round pick who spent time on injured reserve and the practice squad before the Saints cut their losses.
Adrian Arrington, WR (237th overall pick in 2008): May get his chance to make an impact in 2012 after seeing only 135 snaps through his first four years in the league. Says something that the Saints have stuck with him for four years.
Charles Brown, T (64th overall pick in 2010): May find it hard to get on the field after the impressive performances of Zach Strief last year. Stepped in when he was hurt and–outside of a complete hammering from Chris Long–looked like he could be a starter in this league. Very small sample size, though.
Matt Tennant, C (158th overall pick in 2010): Tennant appears a long way from starting, managing just 58 career snaps (though he did earn a +2.2 grade for them). Interesting that the Saints turned their center spot over to Olin Kreutz and then Brian De La Puente while he got splinters on his backside.
-0.5: That pick was not put to good use
Sedrick Ellis, DT (7th overall pick in 2008): Ellis is capable of making plays, but spends an awful lot of time not doing all that much. One of those players who astounds by playing quite as many snaps as he does, the former seventh overall pick just hasn’t produced as you’d expect a guy taken that high to do.
Taylor Mehlhaff, K (178th overall pick in 2008): Released and then re-signed in his rookie year, Mehlhaff would see his Saints career ended after missing a short kick and an extra point. If you spend a draft pick on a kicker they better stick.
Malcolm Jenkins, S (14th overall pick in 2009): You feel sorry for Jenkins, at times. Playing the deep safety role in the Saints' defense is a thankless task that often leaves you about exposed as any defender can be. But he hasn’t exactly helped himself. The former college cornerback-come-NFL safety has earned his -21.0 grade over three years.
Chip Vaughn, S (116th overall pick in 2009): Missed his rookie year with a knee injury and was then waived a year later. Not a great return from a fourth round pick.
Stanley Arnoux, LB (118th overall pick in 2009): Another fourth round pick released, though this time after two years with the team. Just 14 defensive snaps and four special teams tackles to show for it.
-1.0: What a waste!
Al Woods, DT (123rd overall pick in 2010): Waived as a rookie, the Saints had no problems letting former fourth round pick land on the Steelers' practice squad.
-1.5: The scouts/ coaches failed, big time!
High marks for the scouts–no players landing here.
-2.0: You just drafted the love child of Jamarcus Russell and Ryan Leaf!
No Russell/ Leaf hybrids in this draft.
Summary
When you go back and look at how the Saints have built their roster, you get the impression they’re not the biggest fans of the draft. Always one of the most active teams in free agency, they seem to roll the dice on picks without expecting a great deal from them. It’s why in three years of drafting between 2008 and 2010 they’ve managed to find just four guys who have produced what was expected from them. With a lack of draft picks this year and some more heavy spending in free agency, this likely isn’t a plan that is going to stop any time soon.
Follow Khaled on Twitter: @PFF_Khaled … and our main feed too: @ProFootbalFocus
© 2025 PFF - all rights reserved.