JUST IN: New Orleans Saints have made two key changes.
The New Orleans Saints had to restructure a lot of contracts in recent months to open up the cap space for free-agent signings. Therefore, it’s understandable they didn’t make many splashes with the biggest names — they’ve taken an “effective over exciting” approach. As the team tries to inject more youth into its ranks, it’ll turn to the NFL Draft for assistance in some key areas.
The Saints have too many holes in their depth chart to climb out of football purgatory — as many are labeling it — in one offseason. New Orleans’ front office has made a plethora of difficult decisions in recent months and more lie ahead with the NFL Draft on the horizon. Which position do oddsmakers see the Saints taking with their first-round pick?
Oddsmakers at DraftKings Sportsbook mapped out the most likely moves that New Orleans will make with its first-round selection. The Saints sit at No. 14 overall on opening night, which is Thursday, April 25. Oddsmakers expect Mickey Loomis and Co. to take a similar approach in the draft as they did with free agency: smart, not sexy.
Offensive lineman (-300) is the heavy favorite to be the first position taken by New Orleans in the 2024 NFL Draft. It’s easy to see why, as well, given Trevor Penning’s struggles early in his career and the worrying injury updates with Ryan Ramczyk. This class is also incredibly deep as the position, so the Saints shouldn’t have any issues finding quality in the middle of the first round.
A defensive lineman/edge rusher is next up on the oddsboard at +380. New Orleans’ biggest signing of the offseason to date looked to address a need in this area, but similar to Ramczyk, Chase Young’s Week 1 status is up in the air.
Many fans have advocated for the Saints to draft the only other position that comes in with shorter than 10/1 odds, wide receiver (+900). While they may not have been the signings of the spring, New Orleans did bolster its receiving corps with the recent additions of Equanimeous St. Brown and Cedrick Wilson Jr.
Similar to the tackle position, the wide receiver class in the 2024 NFL Draft is talented and it is deep. Star receiver prospects, such as Florida State’s Keon Coleman and LSU’s Brian Thomas Jr., could even slide into the early second round. This is why the position is 9/1 to be taken first by the Saints, there will still be a lot of talent there for the taking at No. 45.
Despite fans being unhappy with the performances of quarterback Derek Carr last season, New Orleans taking a quarterback with the No. 14 pick is out of the question, as the odds (+2000) indicate.
Saints Position of First Drafted Player in 2024 NFL Draft odds
Offensive Lineman (-300)
Defensive Line/Edge (+380)
Wide Receiver (+900)
Cornerback (+1000)
Tight End (+2000)
Quarterback (+2000)
Safety (+5000)
Linebacker (+6000)
Running Back (+10000)
Kicker/Punter/Long Snapper (+20000)
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