Saints Final 2025 NFL Draft Grades: New Orleans makes splashy move at quarterback and finds some value for Brandon Staley's defense

The New Orleans Saints put their finishing touches on their 2025 NFL Draft class on Saturday evening. I graded every selection from round one to round seven. 

New Orleans Saints Final 2025 NFL Draft Grades

Round 1, Pick 9: OT Kelvin Banks Jr., Texas

I like the addition of Banks the more I consider the choice. He's got positional versatility and could allow Trevor Penning to move inside to guard this season. Banks Jr. projects as an option in the long-term at tackle. He's a really good athlete at his size and fills a need, considering how badly New Orleans' OL struggled for much of last season. 

GRADE: B+

Round 2, Pick 40: QB Tyler Shough, Louisville

Woah, buddy. Shough is a polarizing prospect. I like Shough's ability to throw off-platform, his surprising athleticism, and his noted leadership from teammates and coaches. That being said, he is a 25-year-old QB prospect who has dealt with m multiple season-ending injuries. There's a lot of risk involved with him when you take him early in round two. Kellen Moore has a lot of faith in him, though. 

GRADE: C-

Round 3, Pick 71: DT Vernon Broughton II, Texas

This felt like a bit of a reach, but I do like the fit of Broughton on the DL for New Orleans. He can learn from a veteran like Khalen Saunders, and he plays with a lot of enerrgy and grit. I'm interested to see how he develops. 

GRADE: C+

Round 3, Pick 93: S Jonas Sanker, Virginia

Awesome pick! Sanker was a very underrated secondary prospect in this class. He was productive, aggressive, and a leader during his college career. I think he will play a backup role on defense and a legitimate special teams role in year one. Sanker could start in his NFL future, too. 

GRADE: A

Round 4, Pick 112: LB Danny Stutsman, Oklahoma

Stutsman works his tail off. He plays with energy and was the signal-caller for an elite defense over multiple seasons for the Sooners. Great depth add for the defense. He'll learn plenty from Pete Werner and Demario Davis, too. 

GRADE: B+

Round 4, Pick 131: CB Quincy Riley, Louisville

Cornerback was a notable need for the Saints, and Riley could be a legitimate steal for them. Riley had a lot of fans in the scouting community, and many expected him to go sometime on day two, Instead, New Orleans grabs a potential third CB on their depth chart in round four. 

GRADE: B

Round 6, Pick 184: RB Devin Neal, Kansas

One of the best values of the class. Neal is an experienced, productive back that was beloved at Kansas. He could win the backup RB job as a rookie for the Saints, considering the injury issues for Kendre Miller so far. 

GRADE: A

Round 7, Pick 248: TE Moliki Matavao, UCLA

Wasn't a huge fan of Matavao during the draft process - but this is the seventh round. You have to temper your expectations. I thought the Saints would add a tight end a tad earlier than this, though. 

GRADE: C-

Round 7, Pick 254: EDGE Fadil Diggs, Syracuse

Diggs is a really fun athlete off the edge. His pass rush mix is rather underdeveloped, though. That's to be expected late on day three. He will get a chance to work out a roster spot during the preseason and training camp, but he's probably only a practice squad option as a rookie.

GRADE: B-