Saints awarded ITL Best Draft Award at NFL Combine

By Ross Jackson

The New Orleans Saints have been recognized as having the best class of the 2025 NFL Draft by Insider The League at this year’s NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis.

Saints win ⁦@InsideTheLeague⁩’s best draft award pic.twitter.com/lx02Q2VBxK

— Nick Underhill (@nick_underhill) February 25, 2026

New Orleans was recently named a finalist along with five other candidates for the award. The Carolina Panthers, Chicago Bears, Cleveland Browns, New England Patriots and New York Giants were all also under consideration for the remarkable 2025 classes.

What has set the Saints apart among the group was their ability to not only land good players, but several potential franchise cornerstones or long-term contributors at premium positions.

The first two draft picks, left tackle Kelvin Banks Jr. and quarterback Tyler Shough quickly became identifiable wins at major positions on offense, arguably the two most important. Landing a starting blindside protector and signal caller could be pivotal in turning around season results for the Saints. New Orleans landed a starter at cornerback with Quincy Riley, who was drafted in the fourth round, another position considered one of the prime spots on the roster. 

Meanwhile, the team also acquired an impressive starting-caliber safety with the third-round selection of Jonas Sanker, along with key rookie season contributors in Day Three with linebacker Danny Stutsman and running back Devin Neal. 

With high hopes for third-round pick Vernon Broughton and a pair of seventh-rounders with a big opportunity ahead of them in 2026 with tight end Moliki Matavao and edge rusher Fadil Diggs, there is more potential exhibited in this class than any other in the Crescent City since 2017, which was the last time New Orleans was recognized with the Best Draft Award in its inaugural year.

Jeff Ireland, who heads college scouting for the team, and the Saints’ vast scouting staff have now taken this honor twice within the last decade and are looking to build on that success with another big class upcoming in the 2026 NFL Draft.