After finishing 9-8 for the second time in three seasons under head coach Dennis Allen, the New Orleans Saints are still searching for their first playoff berth post-Sean Payton.
They’ll at least have some continuity heading into the 2024 season with Allen back for a fourth year in charge, along with Derek Carr following a respectable first season behind center in New Orleans (3,878 yards passing, 25 TDs, and eight INTs in 17 starts).
With coach and quarterback a little more acclimated to each other, the Saints need a strong 2024 NFL Draft to get over the hump and into the playoffs. After their capital was boosted by 33% thanks to compensatory picks given by the NFL, let’s take a look at the New Orleans Saints’ 2024 NFL Draft picks.
New Orleans Saints Draft Picks By Round
- Round 1, Pick 14
Taliese Fuaga, OT | Oregon State - Round 2, Pick 41 (from GB through NYJ)
Kool-Aid McKinstry, CB | Alabama - Round 5, Pick 150
Spencer Rattler, QB | South Carolina - Round 5, Pick 170 (Compensatory)
Bub Means, WR | Pittsburgh - Round 5, Pick 175 (Compensatory)
Jaylan Ford, LB | Texas - Round 6, Pick 199 (from PHI)
Khristian Boyd, DT | Northern Iowa
- Round 7, Pick 239 (from DEN through LAR)
Josiah Ezirim, OT | Eastern Kentucky
Who Did the Saints Draft in 2024?
Taliese Fuaga, OT, Round 1, Pick 14
Fuaga’s elite power and elite explosiveness serve as high-ceiling traits, but Fuaga is much more refined and much more actionable as a Day 1 NFL starter than he gets credit for. In the run game, Fuaga maximizes his power component with sharp angle awareness, urgency, smooth hinge flexibility, and a finisher’s mentality.
Taliese Fuaga is a mountain of a man with elite power and explosiveness. 💪#GoBeavs | #Saints pic.twitter.com/tV57k5kCUQ
— Pro Football Network (@PFN365) April 26, 2024
Meanwhile, as a pass protector, Fuaga has a strong foundation with his balance, leverage acquisition, and ability to stay square. He’s disciplined with his footwork, and there are bright flashes of independent hand usage, combative synergy, and precision on his tape.
Kool-Aid McKinstry, CB, Round 2, Pick 41
Considered a potential first-round prospect, the Saints nabbed Alabama cornerback Kool-Aid McKinstry early in the second. He will provide much help to a defense that has a lot of room for improvement based on last season’s performance.
NFL Draft Analyst Ian Cummings had this to say. “With a well-rounded profile across man and zone alignments, Kool-Aid McKinstry shouldn’t need much of a runway ahead of becoming a quality NFL starter, and with more refinement around the edges in off-man, he can rise to be an impact starter with a playmaking flair.”
Spencer Rattler, QB, Round 5, Pick 150
The 2024 NFL Draft set two records. First, we saw six quarterbacks go in the first 12 picks. Then, we didn’t see another one selected for the longest stretch in NFL Draft history. The Saints ended the QB drought by grabbing South Carolina QB Spencer Rattler in the fifth round.
Rattler has value as a quality backup with the physical traits and operational floor to withstand adversity and command an offense in spurts. If he can compound his growth from 2023 in the years to come, Rattler has the tools to develop into an NFL starter.
Bub Means, WR, Round 5, Pick 170
Cummings believed Bub Means had the prospect profile to be a Day 3 pick with plenty of formation versatility and athleticism, but his areas of concern are lengthy enough to keep him out of Day 2. That proved to be true as the Saints did not grab him until the middle of Day 3.
Means will compete for a spot on the active roster. At best, he will be solid rotational depth for a receiving corps that isn’t particularly strong behind WR1 Chris Olave.
Jaylan Ford, LB, Round 5, Pick 175
There’s a degree of upside with Jaylan Ford if he can continue to develop, but his ceiling pales in comparison to some of the other, more athletic LBs in the class. Nevertheless, Ford has a floor as a rotational starter with hybrid scheme utility and special teams experience, and he can be a quality starter at his peak.
Khristian Boyd, DT, Round 6, Pick 199
After the 2022 season, it appeared Khristian Boyd was part of a dying breed: primary run defenders who are taken off the field on obvious passing downs. Yet, his improved pass-rush toolbox (on full display at the Shrine Bowl) and ability to harness his immense power has skyrocketed his draft stock.
The Saints secured him in the sixth round with the hope that he will become a useful guy to stuff the run.
Josiah Ezirim, OT, Round 7, Pick 239
Josiah Ezirim is a developmental prospect, but one worth drafting on Day 3. His size and athleticism are enticing, as will his year-over-year growth. He shouldn’t be asked to play early on, but his returns in Year 2-4 could pay dividends with proper coaching.
