In Week 14, the New Orleans Saints secured their best win of the season against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. This was a very unexpected outcome for both teams, and it had a massive impact on some playoff/draft odds.
What Happened to the Saints’ Draft Odds?
On the Buccaneers’ side, this loss heavily affected their playoff chances, but for the Saints, the impact was felt on the draft side.
Going into this game, the Saints had the No. 3 pick in the NFL Draft, and with a loss, they would at least improve to the No. 2 pick, as the New York Giants were on a bye week. Instead, New Orleans got the win.
Looking at PFSN’s Playoff Predictor, the Saints dropped all the way to the 5th overall pick in 2026. Going further, their previous odds of getting the No. 1 pick were 17.6%, and after this upset win, those odds plummeted to 7.3%.
If it were not for the Tennessee Titans, these odds may have fallen even more.
Wins Over Draft Position
This win by the Saints was great, and QB Tyler Shough looked like a potential franchise QB for New Orleans. Yes, their draft did take a hit, but in the end, winning with a rookie QB and HC may be more critical for the future than the draft pick.
The Saints need as much momentum as possible going into next season, and if there is strong belief in the head coach and quarterback, New Orleans can see significant improvements.
Additionally, considering the draft class as a whole, the Saints can still secure a very impactful player in the first round.
Besides, maybe Ohio State LB/EDGE Arvell Reese, this is a draft class that New Orleans will not feel horrible missing out on having a top pick. Still, staying in the top 10 will remain important, and given the team’s inconsistency, there is still a chance they could end up with the No. 1 pick.
Looking at the rest of the season, the Saints will likely secure some wins here and there and finish a bit later in the top 10.
In this area, players like Ohio State S Caleb Downs, LSU CB Mansoor Delane, Auburn EDGE Keldric Faulk, and Ohio State WR Carnell Tate are just some of the great options potentially available.
Out of that group, Tate, who is 8th overall in PFSN’s CFB WR Impact Metric, may be the best choice for the Saints, as he looks great this season.