Fansided
Fansided

2019 NFL Draft: Grades, recaps, and analysis for all 32 teams

By Sayre Bedinger

NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - APRIL 25: Ed Oliver of Houston poses with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell after being chosen #9 overall by the Buffalo Bills during the first round of the 2019 NFL Draft on April 25, 2019 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - APRIL 25: Ed Oliver of Houston poses with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell after being chosen #9 overall by the Buffalo Bills during the first round of the 2019 NFL Draft on April 25, 2019 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
27 of 32
Next
ARLINGTON, TX – SEPTEMBER 24: Trevor Knight #8 of the Texas A&M Aggies celebrates his touchdown with Erik McCoy #64 against the Arkansas Razorbacks in the second quarter at AT&T Stadium on September 24, 2016 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
ARLINGTON, TX – SEPTEMBER 24: Trevor Knight #8 of the Texas A&M Aggies celebrates his touchdown with Erik McCoy #64 against the Arkansas Razorbacks in the second quarter at AT&T Stadium on September 24, 2016 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images) /

New Orleans Saints. . team. 15. . .

1 (48): Erik McCoy, C, Texas A&M
2 (105): Chauncey Gardner-Johnson, S, Florida
3 (177): Saquan Hampton, S, Rutgers
4 (231): Alize Mack, TE, Notre Dame
5 (244): Kaden Elliss, LB, Idaho

Doesn’t it always seem like teams without a first-round pick get some of the best value in the draft?

The New Orleans Saints could have used their top two picks in the first or second rounds on Erik McCoy and Chauncey Gardner-Johnson, and those picks would have been celebrated just the same.

I thought McCoy was a fringe first-round player and this grade is even higher because of the retirement of Max Unger. McCoy was a captain as a junior at A&M and started all three of his seasons there.

Chauncey Gardner-Johnson looks like he has the potential to be a great matchup safety early on, and he can develop into a full-time starter who floats all around a defense. I love this pick for New Orleans.

Saquan Hampton gives the Saints another extremely athletic option on the back end of their defense and on special teams, and another college captain who played his heart out despite Rutgers being absolutely terrible.

Alize Mack gives them a young tight end option with some upside, and Luther Elliss’ son Kaden Elliss tested off the charts at Idaho’s pro day.

I love these picks.

Grade: A

Home/NFL Draft