After a 5-12 finish last season and hiring Kellen Moore away from the Philadelphia Eagles as Dennis Allen's successor, the Saints opened the draft by picking offensive tackle Kelvin Banks Jr. ninth overall and quarterback Tyler Shough 40th overall.

NFL.com's draft analyst Chad Reuter wrote the final snap grades for all 32 team's draft classes. Reuter credited the Saints for filling their needs for a tackle and quarterback in the first two rounds and approved of the team's Day 3 selections, giving them a B- for rounds 4-7.