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.
There might finally be light at the end of the tunnel for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers when it comes to injured running back Bucky Irving.
The Buccaneers offense has been without Irving for the last 5 games, since a Week 4 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles on September 28 due to a variety of injuries, although a shoulder injury has been of the most concern.
“Possibly big Bucs news,” Tampa Bay Times reporter Rick Stroud wrote on his official X account on Wednesday, November 12. “RB Bucky Irving is participating in the walk thru practice. G Ben Bredeson also working. Irving has not played since Sept. 28 due to foot and shoulder injuries.”
The Buccaneers are 6-3 headed into a brutal pair of road games coming up with a trip to face the Buffalo Bills in Week 11 before heading all the way across the country to face the Los Angeles Rams in Week 12.
Irving, who rushed for over 1,000 yards as a rookie, has been sorely missed.
While the Buccaneers have made up the slack at wide receiver with Chris Godwin, Mike Evans and Jalen McMillan out with injuries, it’s been harder to do that with Rachaad White stepping in for Irving.
“Todd Bowles said it was good to see Bucky Irving on the practice field but he was limited and it was just a walk-through,” Buccaneers.com’s Scott Smith wrote on his official X account. “Needs to see Irving in a full-speed practice before making any proclamations about a timetable for his return.”
While Irving’s follow up too a bravura rookie campaign has fallen flat to this point, he has the advantage of playing on a team that’s in first place in the NFC South Division — with a 2-game lead at that — and could very well be a dark horse contender if everyone comes back healthy over the next month who has been injured.
Right now, the perception of Irving is that rookie year was just a flash in the pan.
Bleacher Report’s Brad Gagnon called Irving the “Most Disappointing Player” on the roster in 2025.
“After averaging 5.4 yards per rush as a rookie, Irving has seen that number decline to 3.3 in 2025,” Gagnon wrote on October 24. “Only one qualified back is below that. He’s also yet to score a rushing touchdown.”
Irving had a season high 165 yards of total offense agains the Eagles — 15 carries for 63 yards and 5 receptions for 102 yards. That kind of production can flip games like the 28-23 home loss to the New England Patriots in Week 10.
Right now, it seems like the only legitimate weapon 2-time Pro Bowl quarterback Baker Mayfield has on offense he can rely on is 2025 first round pick (No. 19 overall) and wide receiver Emeka Egbuka.
Egbuka, possibly the frontrunner to win NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year, leads the Buccaneers and is ninth in the NFL in receiving with 40 receptions for 677 yards and 6 touchdowns.
The Buccaneers have also gotten a boost lately from their final pick in the 2025 draft with rookie wide receiver Tez Johnson.
“There are just two rookies across the NFL this season with 250+ receiving yards and 4+ receiving touchdowns through Week 10 … Both are Buccaneers drafted by Jason Licht,” Buccaneers Communications wrote on its official X account on November 10. “Emeka Egbuka (pick No. 19) & Tez Johnson (No. 235).”