New Orleans Saints' First Round Draft Picks Since 2000 Raise Questions

Saints' trading strategies and avoidance of LSU players in the first round have led to an inconsistent track record of developing foundational talent.

Apr. 9, 2026 at 1:38pm

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A fractured, cubist-style painting depicting the New Orleans Saints' draft process, with sharp geometric planes in muted earth tones representing the team's unconventional approach to first-round selections.The Saints' unorthodox first-round draft strategies have led to an unpredictable roster-building process, requiring a deconstructed, multi-angled view to fully comprehend.New Orleans Today

The New Orleans Saints have consistently relied on trading first-round draft picks and avoiding players from Louisiana State University in the opening round since 2000. This high-risk strategy has resulted in the team holding multiple first-round selections on five separate occasions, but also sitting out the first round entirely three times. While the Saints have had some success with picks like Cameron Jordan and Mark Ingram, their overall track record in the first round raises questions about the effectiveness of their talent evaluation department and the reliability of their roster construction methods.

Why it matters

The NFL Draft's first round is critical for teams to establish foundational pieces for their rosters while maintaining financial flexibility under the salary cap. Missing on these high-value picks can set a team's rebuilding timeline back by years, so the Saints' unconventional draft strategies have significant implications for the long-term health of the franchise.

The details

The Saints have consistently relied on executing trades to maneuver across the draft board in the first round, a high-risk methodology that has also resulted in the team holding multiple first-round picks on five separate occasions since 2000. Additionally, the Saints have a established approach of avoiding any prospect from Louisiana State University in the first round, opting instead to take a lesser player at the same position, trade the pick, or fill a different need.

  • The NFL Draft takes place annually in the spring, with the 2026 edition on the horizon.

The players

Cameron Jordan

A defensive end selected by the Saints in the first round of the 2011 NFL Draft, who has established himself as a definitive foundational contributor for the team.

Mark Ingram

A running back selected by the Saints in the first round of the 2011 NFL Draft, who has also proven to be a valuable first-round pick for the organization.

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What they’re saying

“Judging success in the NFL Draft requires analyzing sustained production across multiple seasons. It makes no sense to give a team a "draft grade" before any of the players they selected get on a field.”

— Greg Atoms, Author

The takeaway

The Saints' unconventional first-round draft strategies, including trading picks and avoiding LSU prospects, have resulted in an inconsistent track record of developing foundational talent, raising questions about the effectiveness of the team's talent evaluation and roster construction methods.