The 2024 NFL draft will be here before we know it, and it’s a critical event for the New Orleans Saints. With so many salary cap dollars going towards the team’s aging veterans, it’s vital that the Saints hit on as many picks as possible to replenish the roster with young talent.
And this year, the Saints are expected to receive nine picks — they already own six selections, but they’re anticipating three more as compensatory picks for losing free agents last offseason. Where those picks slot in and whether they even actually transfer is yet to be seen, but we’ll refer to the latest projections from Over The Cap and Tankathon to give you can idea of what the Saints should have to work with in April.
Here’s a quick look at each of their nine picks and and how they acquired each selection:
Round 1, Pick 14
This is the Saints’ own pick.
Round 2, Pick 45
This is the pick coming back to the Saints from the Denver Broncos in exchange for Sean Payton.
Round 5, Pick 149
This is the Saints’ own pick.
Round 5, Pick 167
This is the first of three projected compensatory picks, which the Saints should get after losing defensive tackle David Onyemata. There’s a chance it may move up to the fourth round at No. 135.
Round 5, Pick 169
This is the second of three projected compensatory picks, which the Saints should get after losing defensive end Marcus Davenport last year.
Round 5, Pick 174
This is the third and final projected compensatory pick, which the Saints should get after losing defensive end Marcus Davenport last year.
Round 6, Pick 192
This is the Saints’ own pick.
Round 6, Pick 201
The Saints are getting this pick from the Philadelphia Eagles, having traded safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson to Philly two offseasons ago.
Round 7, Pick 230
The Saints are getting this pick from the Denver Broncos, having traded kicker Wil Lutz to Denver last summer.
What about the picks traded away?
The Saints already traded four of their 2024 draft picks to other teams:
- Round 2, Pick 50: To the Philadelphia Eagles for a 2022 pick that became left tackle Trevor Penning
- Round 3, Pick 81: To the Denver Broncos, who sent it to the Seattle Seahawks, along with Sean Payton
- Round 4, Pick 117: To the Jacksonville Jaguars, to move up on draft day last year for quarterback Jake Haener
- Round 7, Pick 236: To the Houston Texans, in exchange for running back Mark Ingram II back in 2021
