The New Orleans Saints came into the 2023 NFL Draft with a clear goal in mind. They wanted to improve their defensive line after experiencing multiple defections in free agency. David Onyemata, Shy Tuttle and Marcus Davenport all departed, leaving a huge void on the roster.
The team did sign Khalen Saunders and Nathan Shepard to help fill the void, but they needed some long-term, cost-effective options as well. The NFL Draft provides those kinds of players and New Orleans wasted no time addressing the need.
In the first round, the Saints selected defensive tackle Bryan Bresee. That selection drew a lot of positive reaction, as Bresee is a dominant player on the interior when healthy. In Round 2, they decided to double down on a defensive lineman.
With the No. 40 overall pick, the Saints selected Isaiah Foskey from Notre Dame. Foskey holds the record for sacks in program history, so he can certainly get after the quarterback. He certainly fills New Orleans’ need for a pass rusher, but it wasn’t a selection that everyone loved.
One analyst who wasn’t fond of the pick was Chris Trapasso of CBS Sports. Trapasso provided a scathing reaction to the pick, giving the selection a grade of D+.
“Sturdy EDGE who does not play to his measured athleticism. Slow burst off the line. Rushes are high and lack leverage. Pass-rush move arsenal is lacking. Better edge-setter than pass rusher. This is way too early.”
Foskey is quick and powerful, which are good tools to have. However, he will need to develop some more moves to find consistent success against NFL offensive linemen. His pre-draft grade was a third or mid-round pick, so taking him in the early second-round is certainly a reach.
The Saints could have fallen victim to selecting need over value. However, there were other defensive ends available when Foskey was taken off the board. B.J. Ojulari and Keion White would have certainly provided more value at that spot.
