Saints Avoid LSU Players, Rely on Draft Trades Since 2000

New Orleans' unconventional strategies have produced mixed results in the NFL Draft over the past 26 years.

Apr. 9, 2026 at 11:57am

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A cubist-style painting depicting a New Orleans Saints football player in action, with the player's body and movements broken down into sharp, overlapping geometric shapes and planes in the team's official colors of black, gold, and white.The Saints' unorthodox draft strategies have produced mixed results, with the team's talent evaluation process remaining a subject of scrutiny.Shreveport Today

The New Orleans Saints have consistently avoided selecting players from Louisiana State University (LSU) in the first round of the NFL Draft since 2000, instead opting to trade their picks or select players from other schools. The team has also been highly active in trading its first-round selections, sitting out the opening round entirely on three occasions. While this high-risk strategy has allowed the Saints to accumulate multiple first-round picks on five separate occasions, the long-term success of their draft selections remains questionable.

Why it matters

The Saints' draft strategies, which include avoiding in-state talent and frequently trading first-round picks, highlight the immense pressure and risk that NFL teams face in evaluating collegiate talent accurately. Missing on first-round picks can have long-lasting consequences for a team's salary cap and roster construction, making the Saints' unconventional approach a subject of scrutiny and debate among fans and analysts.

The details

The Saints have consistently traded their first-round picks, either moving up, down, or out of the opening round entirely. This high-risk methodology has resulted in the team holding multiple first-round selections on five separate occasions since 2000. Additionally, the Saints have steadfastly avoided drafting players from Louisiana State University (LSU) in the first round, opting instead to select lesser-known prospects or trade the pick.

  • The Saints have sat out the first round of the NFL Draft three times since 2000.

The players

Cameron Jordan

A defensive end who has established himself as a foundational contributor for the Saints since being drafted in the first round in 2011.

Mark Ingram

A running back who was selected in the first round by the Saints in 2011 and has had a successful career with the team.

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The takeaway

The Saints' unconventional draft strategies, which include avoiding in-state talent and frequently trading first-round picks, have produced mixed results over the past 26 years. While the team has been able to accumulate multiple first-round selections, the long-term success of their draft choices remains questionable, highlighting the inherent risk and pressure that NFL teams face in accurately evaluating collegiate talent.