The New Orleans Saints have played 10 games so far this season and there are some reasons for optimism for the future of the franchise.
Now, there are obviously salary cap questions coming after the season and there are some veterans who may not be with the team any longer when the 2025 season ends. But, New Orleans’ 2025 draft class has a shot at being transformational for the team.
Let’s take a look at the draft class and evaluate key takeaways.
Round 1: OT Kelvin Banks Jr.
Round 2: QB Tyler Shough
Round 3: DL Vernon Broughton
Round 3: S Jonas Sanker
Let’s start with the guys difficult to evaluate. Vernon Broughton has played in just one game, Moliki Matavao has played in three games, and Fadil Diggs has played in four games. Diggs and Matavao are on the practice squad and Broughton is out for the season.
Banks, Shough, Sanker, Stutsman, Riley, and Neal all have shown a lot of promise for the future as well. Banks has started all 10 games for the Saints and looks like the left tackle of the future. He has a 68.3 PFF grade, good for 32nd out of 76 tackles.
Shough has started just two games so far this season and had one of the best games by a Saints rookie in team history in Week 10 against the Carolina Panthers. He actually became the first Saints rookie quarterback to win a game since 1981, so that’s nice.
Sanker has played in all 10 games, including nine starts. The Saints’ safety room took a hit with Julian Blackmon getting hurt. Sanker has filled in well and has one interception and has held opposing quarterbacks to a 55 percent completion rate.
Stutsman has played in all 10 games and has been solid linebacker depth. He has 28 tackles on the season.
Riley has been involved in all 10 games, including two starts. He has an interception and has held opposing quarterbacks to a 60 percent completion rate.
Neal had his best game as a pro against the Panthers with 22 rushing yards and three catches. That’s not eye-popping, but his role just increased over the last few weeks with Kendre Miller out.
This draft class starts with Banks and Shough. Both look like the real deal so far. But, on top of that, the Saints could’ve found a starting safety, cornerback, linebacker, and eventual Alvin Kamara replacement. That’s what should have fans excited.
The AFC East is a funny place. For fifteen straight years, the New England Patriots treated the New York Jets like their personal punching bag. It was a lock, a guarantee. You could set your watch to it. But times have changed, and the Jets have managed to snag two of the last three. Now, as we head into a Thursday night prime-time clash at Gillette Stadium, the script has been flipped entirely.
The Patriots are sitting pretty at 8-2, a record that feels like a fever dream after the last two seasons. They’ve already matched their win totals from the previous two years
Speaking of quarterbacks, Drake Maye is on the verge of something special. If he pulls off a win against the Jets, he’ll have an eight-game winning streak under his belt. The only other Patriots quarterback to accomplish that feat in a single season? Some guy named Brady. No pressure, kid. Maye has been the steady hand this team desperately needed, but this week, he’ll have to do it without some of his favorite toys.
The Patriots’ injury report reads like a who’s who of key contributors. The offense is taking a massive hit with Running Back Rhamondre Stevenson (toe) and Receiver Kayshon Boutte (hamstring) both ruled OUT. Boutte was a touchdown machine before his injury, and Stevenson’s absence leaves a significant hole in the backfield. Throw in veteran Tight End Austin Hooper being sidelined with a concussion, and you have to wonder where the points are going to come from.
The defense isn’t escaping unscathed either. Linebacker Christian Elliss, a tackling machine with 48 takedowns this year, is also out with a hip injury. That’s a tough blow for a defense preparing to face a Jets team that, despite its own struggles, would love nothing more than to play spoiler.
So, who steps up? All eyes are on rookie Running Back TreVeyon Henderson. After a knee scare, he’s back to full practice and coming off a monster Week 10 performance where he galloped for 147 yards and two touchdowns. With Stevenson out, expect Henderson to get a heavy dose of carries. He leads the team in scrimmage yards and boasts the fifth-highest rushing average in the league.
The kid is electric, and the Patriots will need every spark he can provide. On the receiving end, look for rookie Kyle Williams to step into Boutte’s role. He already showed flashes of brilliance with a 72-yard touchdown last week. Talk about a baptism by fire.
As if the rivalry needed more fuel, former Patriots legend Rob Gronkowski signed a one-day contract to retire as a Patriot this week. Owner Robert Kraft even joked about signing him to a two-day contract so he could suit up. Gronk quipped back, “What’s the signing bonus?” While we won’t see Gronk spiking footballs on Thursday, his presence is a reminder of the standard this organization holds. It’s a standard this banged-up, but resilient, Patriots team will have to fight tooth and nail to uphold.