Saints among finalists for Best Draft Award at NFL Combine

By Ross Jackson

The New Orleans Saints were named among six finalists for this year’s Best Draft Award. 

The award has been given out during the Inside The League Combine Seminar each year since the 2018 NFL Scouting Combine each year in Indianapolis. 

It recognizes the team and scouting departments that put together the best draft class from the year prior. 

The Saints, Carolina Panthers, Chicago Bears, Cleveland Browns, New England Patriots and New York Giants are all finalists to take home this year’s honor. 

New Orleans should be considered the front-runners for this award. First-round pick, left tackle Kelvin Banks Jr. started all 17 games and performed at a high level. The team landed two near-immediate starters on defense with safety Jonas Sanker (16 starts) and cornerback Quincy Riley (17 game appearances). 

The club also landed impactful rotational players and deep-season starters like running back Devin Neal and linebacker Danny Stutsman. Third-round defensive tackle Vernon Broughton was also set to see a large rotational role before suffering a season-ending injury in Week Two. Each of this trio is expected to see increased opportunity next season. 

The headliner of the draft class, however was second record selection and now-starting quarterback Tyler Shough. 

Shough finished as the runner-up for AP Offensive Rookie of the Year and led the team to five wins over his nine games as a starter. 

New Orleans received the award in its inaugural year in 2018 for its fantastic 2017 draft class. The 2025 cohort is undeniably the best class the team has brought in since then, relative to immediate impact and future projections.  

Along with seventh-round picks like tight end Moliki Matavao and defensive end Fadil Diggs, each of whom have a shot to gain an increased role in 2026, the Saints’ nine-man draft class from 2025 may be set to take another recognition next week.