Plenty of explanations exist for why the New Orleans Saints have fallen to become one of the NFL's worst teams, but chief among them is a troubling trend of NFL Draft ineptitude.
As the Saints trim their roster to 53 players before Tuesday's 4 p.m. ET deadline, the front office released 2023 second-round defensive end Isaiah Foskey (No. 40 overall), 2023 fourth-round quarterback Jake Haener (No. 127 overall) and 2022 fifth-round linebacker D'Marco Jackson (No. 161 overall) before lunch time.
Saints have released former 2nd, 4th and 5th-round draft picks so far today. They haven't built up their depth through the draft in recent years like they needed to.
— Mike Triplett (@MikeTriplett) August 26, 2025
None of the moves were particularly shocking. But that doesn't make them any less disappointing.
Since 2000, Foskey is one of two primary defensive ends selected in the first or second round of the NFL Draft to appear in at least 20 games and not record a sack, joining former New York Jets defensive end Vernon Gholston.
Haener was benched at halftime of his lone 2024 start and ended the season 18-of-39 (46.2%) for 226 yards, one touchdown and one interception.
Jackson was a core special teams player but played sparingly on defense his first two seasons. NewOrleans.Football's Mike Triplett noted he could be a practice squad candidate if he goes unclaimed on waivers, but his slow development on defense is another strike against the team's scouting.
Saints released LB D'Marco Jackson, per source. Has been a special teams staple. An obvious candidate to return if he doesn't wind up elsewhere.
— Mike Triplett (@MikeTriplett) August 26, 2025
Senior vice president and assistant general manager — college personnel Jeff Ireland has had plenty of hits over the years for New Orleans (even players who succeeded elsewhere, like Philadelphia Eagles linebacker Zach Baun), but the Saints have been one of the worst drafting teams this decade.
Defensive end Payton Turner, a 2021 first-round pick, had five sacks in four seasons before departing during in 2025 free agency. Offensive tackle Trevor Penning, one of two 2022 first-rounders, was benched in his first season as a starter and moved to guard this offseason, a final gasp at finding a fit for the fourth-year pro.
It's no coincidence that New Orleans' late-2010s renaissance came on the heels of the team's phenomenal 2017 draft class, which featured Associated Press Rookies of the Year Alvin Kamara (Offensive) and Marshon Lattimore (Defensive), tackle Ryan Ramczyk, defensive end Trey Hendrickson, linebacker Alex Anzalone and safety Marcus Williams.
Particularly for teams like New Orleans, which spend years up against the salary-cap wall, hitting on cost-controlled draft picks is essential to remaining a title contender.
It will take another strong class for the Saints to once again be relevant to the playoff picture, and it's unclear if 2025's rookies will be the ones to alter the team's trajectory.
Second-rounder Tyler Shough didn't emerge as a clear winner in the starting quarterback battle with Spencer Rattler. While he could still earn the role, after Rattler started twice in the preseason, he might be the likelier choice.
Offensive tackle Kelvin Banks, selected No. 9 overall, will be a key player to watch this season, as will middle-round defenders Vernon Broughton (No. 71 overall), Jonas Sanker (No. 93), Danny Stutsman (No. 112) and Quincy Riley (No. 131).
With the playoffs an unrealistic goal in 2025, a successful season in New Orleans would be for a handful of its rookies and other young players to emerge as starting-caliber. If so, that would be an exception to the recent rule.
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