New Orleans Saints: Complete 2015 NFL Draft Wrap-Up and Analysis

The 2015 NFL draft has come and gone, and the New Orleans Saints made nine selections over the course of the three-day event.

Defense was the theme of the weekend for New Orleans.

After the Saints finished the 2014 season with the NFL's No. 31-ranked defensive unit, general manager Mickey Loomis and coach Sean Payton used this draft to fill glaring needs on that side of the ball. Of the Saints' nine picks, the team used six of them to snag defensive players. 

With such a significant haul, it became apparent that Loomis and Payton are determined to turn the Saints' biggest weakness into a strength in the coming seasons. 

Of course, the offense wasn't completely ignored, as New Orleans acquired its left tackle of the future and possibly its next franchise quarterback. 

Continue reading for a closer look at the Saints' draft.

The Selections

The Saints kicked off their draft in a bit of a peculiar way with the selection of Andrus Peat at No. 13 overall. New Orleans had more pressing needs than offensive line, but since the team addressed those holes later on, this was a solid pick. 

Quality play on the offensive line is often the foundation for success in the NFL, and by picking Peat, New Orleans may have found its left tackle for the next 10-15 years. I can't argue with the thinking there. 

With their second pick, the Saints turned their attention to the inside linebacker spot. New Orleans needed to get more athletic at this position and did so by snagging Stephone Anthony. The former Clemson standout can hit, cover and run sideline to sideline. He should patrol the middle of the Saints defense from Day 1.

In Round 2, New Orleans addressed perhaps its biggest need of the draft by picking pass-rusher Hau'oli Kikaha. Three rounds later, the Saints went pass-rusher again when they grabbed Davis Tull. 

With their first third-round pick, the Saints did what analysts and experts had speculated on for months and took a quarterback. Is Garrett Grayson the quarterback of the future? Possibly, but only time will truly tell.

Cornerback was also a need for New Orleans, despite the fact that Loomis had already addressed the position in free agency. The Saints took not one but two corners in P.J. Williams and Damian Swann, and now their defensive backfield is a bit crowded. Expect some intense competition at this spot in fall camp. 

New Orleans' only defensive line selection was an impressive one. Tyeler Davison has huge upside, and it's still a bit puzzling how the 316-pound defensive tackle lasted nearly five rounds without getting drafted. 

Finally, the Saints closed out their draft by taking running back/kick returner Marcus Murphy, who gives them another option in the backfield, as well as in the return game.

Best Pick: Hau'oli Kikaha

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They waited until the second round to do it, but the Saints tended to a huge need with the selection of Washington outside linebacker Hau'oli Kikaha. I'm going to go ahead and give this pick a solid "A" grade. 

Kikaha is one of the most intense competitors in the entire draft. He goes 100 miles per hour on every snap, and his relentless effort should win Saints fans over quickly come fall. 

He racked up a whopping 32 sacks over the past two seasons for the Huskies, including 19 in 2014. At one point in his collegiate career, he registered at least one sack in 14 consecutive games. 

Sure, Kikaha is a bit of a one-dimensional player right now, as his run defense could use some fine-tuning.

Make no mistake, though: His role in New Orleans will be simple. Defensive coordinator Rob Ryan will place him on the edge of the defense and turn him loose. 

Worst Pick: Marcus Murphy

John Raoux/Associated Press

The selection of Missouri all-purpose back Marcus Murphy wasn't a terrible pick in Round 7, but it was the worst of an otherwise excellent draft by the Saints and receives a "C."

There's no denying that Murphy is a fine football player. He may turn into the next Darren Sproles, and he may not, but this is a simple matter of position choice here. 

If the Saints were going offense with their Round 7 pick, they could have addressed plenty of other more pressing needs.

They still don't have a deep threat at wide receiver who can take the top off defenses other than Brandin Cooks, and they don't have a receiving tight end who can contribute to the vertical passing game other than Josh Hill. The Saints also could have added more depth at guard. 

Besides, New Orleans already has a capable return man in Jalen Saunders, who came on at the end of last season. In addition, the roster features C.J. Spiller to play the role of explosive receiving threat out of the backfield. 

Murphy lacks top-end spend, and with his undersized build (5'8", 193 lbs), he could be a liability in pass protection. New Orleans could have done worse here, but it also could have done better. 

What the Experts Are Saying

Mike Mayock

One of the more intriguing picks of the entire draft was the selection of Garrett Grayson by the Saints in Round 3. Several NFL draft experts sounded off on the selection, including Mike Mayock of the NFL Network (h/t Mike Huguenin).

Mayock had this to say about Grayson during the NFL Network's draft broadcast:

"

I'm not trying to say he's Drew Brees, but his game is similar to a Drew Brees. He throws with anticipation, which is rare for a quarterback today. Will he overwhelm you with his physical traits? No. A little over 6'2," pretty good arm, pretty good athlete. But I think the whole is better than the composite parts.

"

A look at Grayson's film does remind one of Brees. Grayson isn't the best athlete, but he isn't a bad one either. The throws he makes in the intermediate passing game and the touch he places on his deep passes are reminiscent of the Saints' signal-caller. 

That being said, there are also differences between the two. For instance, Grayson has a hitch in his delivery, whereas Brees has a classic, textbook throwing motion. In addition, while Grayson is a still-developing player, Brees goes through his reads and progressions much quicker than the rookie, who has long way to go in that department.

Rob Rang

Meanwhile, Rob Rang, NFL draft analyst at CBSSports.com (h/t Robby Kalland), likened the Saints drafting Grayson to the New England Patriots picking current backup quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo in last year's draft. 

Here's what Rang had to say on CBSSports.com's draft coverage:

"

I think this selection makes a lot of sense. We saw the New England Patriots, a year ago, select Jimmy Garoppolo because he was a good fit in their offense. Obviously, they have an aging superstar in Tom Brady. The New Orleans Saints are in a very similar situation - a superstar in Drew Brees, but, of course, an aging superstar. So, why not select a young quarterback to develop behind him? I really like this selection of Garrett Grayson here for the New Orleans Saints.

"

Rang is on point here. New England brought in Garoppolo in Round 3 of the draft last year. The Patriots are hardly forcing Brady out the door, and the Saints aren't forcing Brees out either. It's simply a matter of trying to get a head start on the future. 

Grayson may prove to be a dud, and the Saints could well have to try someone else in a few years, but it isn't too early to bring in a young quarterback to see if he has what it takes to lead the offense in the future. 

What's Left to Address

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The draft is now in the Saints' rearview mirror. With a nice collection of newly acquired talent, the team will look toward the 2015 season.

While New Orleans went heavy with defense, and understandably so, a few areas are still in need of attention. 

For one, the Saints need another deep threat with which to replace Kenny Stills. Brandin Cooks is the only receiver who has the speed to stretch defenses vertically. The vertical passing game has always been a staple of the New Orleans offense, and even though Joe Morgan is serviceable, opposing teams won't respect him the way they do Cooks. 

While the bones have nearly been picked of this year's crop of free agents, New Orleans does have two 2014 practice squad wideouts in Seantavius Jones and Brandon Coleman. While neither is what you'd call a deep threat, they're both promising young wideouts who could potentially provide Brees and the offense with some significant production next season. 

If the Saints don't acquire or develop a wide receiver, additional help at tight end would certainly be welcomed. New Orleans has Josh Hill and Benjamin Watson, but the latter is primarily used in the short passing game. Another receiving tight end who can line up in the slot and run the seam would be a huge help for the New Orleans offense in 2015.

Final Grade

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Defense wins championships, and the best way to build a championship defense is through the draft.

The New Orleans front office seemed to take this strategy to heart in this year's draft, stockpiling six defensive players during the three-day event. 

Of the Saints' defensive picks, one common trait shared by all of them, no matter the position, is that of a fiery, intense style of play. Stephone Anthony, Hau'oli Kikaha, P.J. Williams, Davis Tull, Tyeler Davison and Damian Swann are all players who give maximum effort on every snap, and they're relentless competitors. 

Along the way, the Saints also selected what appears to be the team's left tackle of the future, and they brought in a young quarterback who could one day take the reins of the offense. 

Although New Orleans' 2015 draft was difficult to predict and sometimes surprising, nearly every move made sense.

Grade: A-