vleboy'S MOCK DRAFT

vleboy'S MOCK DRAFT
RUN ON FEB 6, 2026

2025

  • vleboy DRAFTING FOR THE
    Saints
Draft Selections
Olaivavega Ioane Head Shot
PICK: 28 RND: 1 (NO)
Olaivavega Ioane
OG Penn State
Anthony Hill Jr. Head Shot
PICK: 38 RND: 2 (NO)
Anthony Hill Jr.
LB Texas
Christen Miller Head Shot
PICK: 42 RND: 2 (NO)
Christen Miller
DL Georgia
Eli Stowers Head Shot
PICK: 59 RND: 2 (NO)
Eli Stowers
TE Vanderbilt
Malachi Lawrence Head Shot
PICK: 73 RND: 3 (NO)
Malachi Lawrence
DE-EDGE UCF
Keylan Rutledge Head Shot
PICK: 132 RND: 4 (NO)
Keylan Rutledge
OG Georgia Tech
Domani Jackson Head Shot
PICK: 136 RND: 4 (NO)
Domani Jackson
CB Alabama
Terion Stewart Head Shot
PICK: 148 RND: 5 (NO)
Terion Stewart
RB Virginia Tech
Eric McAlister Head Shot
PICK: 170 RND: 5 (NO)
Eric McAlister
WR TCU
Hykeem Williams Head Shot
PICK: 188 RND: 6 (NO)
Hykeem Williams
WR Colorado
Draft Picks Received
Olaivavega Ioane Head Shot
PICK: 28 RND: 1 (HOU)
Olaivavega Ioane
OG Penn State
Anthony Hill Jr. Head Shot
PICK: 38 RND: 2 (HOU)
Anthony Hill Jr.
LB Texas
Eli Stowers Head Shot
PICK: 59 RND: 2 (HOU)
Eli Stowers
TE Vanderbilt
No Pick Head Shot
PICK: RND: 3 (HOU)
NEXT YEAR (2027)
 
No Pick Head Shot
PICK: RND: 4 (HOU)
NEXT YEAR (2027)
 
Draft Picks Traded
Spencer Fano Head Shot
PICK: 8 RND: 1 (HOU)
Spencer Fano
OT Utah
Players Gained
Head Shot
Christian Kirk
WR
Draft Grade — Saints
Overall B+
ValueC+ NeedB TradesA+ FutureB
The Saints worked the phones like thieves and earned a B+.

The Saints put a flag in the ground for Malachi Lawrence, 64 picks before anyone else would have, and the value took the hit.

Every deal seemed to tilt their way, which is not luck. A whole weekend of picks and quarterback is somehow still a want.

Landing Rutledge that late papers over a lot of smaller sins. Adding Christian Kirk by trade rounds out the weekend beyond the rookies.

In sum, a sturdy weekend with one asterisk, the quarterback spot they never got to.

Pick Analysis
Pick28 Rnd1 Olaivavega Ioane
A tidy little value on Olaivavega Ioane in the 28th pick, a step better than break-even. That was the need underlined and circled, and now it is checked off.
Pick38 Rnd2 Anthony Hill Jr.
Anthony Hill Jr. in pick 38 is exactly on the number, no argument either way. A minor need, but a need all the same.
Pick42 Rnd2 Christen Miller
Fair-plus on Christen Miller, a quiet win that adds up over a draft. The roster fit checks out.
Pick59 Rnd2 Eli Stowers
A straight-up fair deal on Eli Stowers at the Round 2 slot, value and slot in agreement. A sensible fit that makes the depth chart a little sturdier.
Pick73 Rnd3 Malachi Lawrence
Malachi Lawrence at Round 3, Pick 9 is an overdraft of the loud, memorable kind. This was priority one on the needs board, and now it is handled.
Pick132 Rnd4 Keylan Rutledge
Keylan Rutledge slipping to pick No. 132 is the kind of luck good rooms make for themselves. They walked in needing this and walked out with it.
Pick136 Rnd4 Domani Jackson
Domani Jackson at Round 4, Pick 36 is neither steal nor reach, just the going rate. The biggest hole on the depth chart just got a whole lot smaller.
Pick148 Rnd5 Terion Stewart
They paid sticker price for Terion Stewart in slot 148, and that is fine. It patches a soft spot without any drama.
Pick170 Rnd5 Eric McAlister
No edge and no loss on Eric McAlister in No. 170; it is a wash and a sensible one. It answers the question that was keeping the coaches up at night.
Pick188 Rnd6 Hykeem Williams
The board screamed and they did not listen, reaching into the next round for Hykeem Williams. A glaring weakness, addressed head on.