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Comparing the 2018 Denver Broncos rookies vs. 2017 New Orleans Saints

By Sayre Bedinger

DENVER, CO - NOVEMBER 25: Phillip Lindsay #30 of the Denver Broncos carries the ball against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Broncos Stadium at Mile High on November 25, 2018 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)
DENVER, CO - NOVEMBER 25: Phillip Lindsay #30 of the Denver Broncos carries the ball against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Broncos Stadium at Mile High on November 25, 2018 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images) /
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NEW ORLEANS, LA – NOVEMBER 4: Alvin Kamara #41 of the New Orleans Saints runs the ball during a game against the Los Angeles Rams at Mercedes-Benz Superdome on November 4, 2018 in New Orleans, Louisiana. The Saints defeated the Rams 45-35. (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images)
NEW ORLEANS, LA – NOVEMBER 4: Alvin Kamara #41 of the New Orleans Saints runs the ball during a game against the Los Angeles Rams at Mercedes-Benz Superdome on November 4, 2018 in New Orleans, Louisiana. The Saints defeated the Rams 45-35. (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images) /

Why the Saints’ class was so special

The Saints ended up having a few more picks in the earlier rounds than the Broncos did here, including two picks in the first round and three total picks in the third round. With that kind of draft capital, teams are expected to hit on at least a few more players than normal, but the Saints appear to have found a couple of star players and some long-term starters with every one of those picks except Hendrickson.

And even in Hendrickson’s case, the jury is still out.

The Saints drafted the league’s offensive and defensive rookies of the year in 2017, an incredible feat. Kamara and Lattimore were also selected to play in the 2017 Pro Bowl as rookies.

Beyond those two players, Ryan Ramczyk has looked like a decade-long starter after some questions about his health and overall experience at Wisconsin, and Alex Anzalone has also busted through some injury concerns to make big plays for New Orleans.

Marcus Williams was the victim of the Minneapolis miracle in the 2017/18 playoffs, but he’s a heck of a young safety with six interceptions already to his name in two NFL seasons.

This class has star power and then some.

Kamara, in particular, appears to be the gem. The third-round pick out of Tennessee was not used as well as he could have been in college, but scouts saw his potential in flashes and believed in what he could be. That faith has come to fruition with the Saints, where Kamara has racked up nearly 3,000 yards of offense in his two seasons (four games left in 2018) and 28 total offensive touchdowns.

Kamara also had a kick returned for a touchdown in his rookie season, and three more offensive touchdowns in the playoffs.

The guy is a machine and the Saints’ offense flows through him, Drew Brees, and Michael Thomas.

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