A decade later, the Saints’ 2016 draft class still looks like one of the more important hauls the franchise has made, even if it has spent most of its life in the shadow of the 2017 group. The class helped shape New Orleans for years, and while not every pick hit, the overall body of work deserves a strong look back.
Sheldon Rankins set the tone for that class. He put together a quietly strong NFL run, piling up 33.5 sacks, 49 tackles for loss, and 281 tackles.
Rankins spent five seasons in New Orleans and played a major role in the Saints’ defensive success from 2016 to 2021. Since leaving after his rookie contract, he has bounced around the league and is now headlining the Houston Texans’ interior defensive line.
He never became a true star, but that doesn’t erase what he gave the Saints.
Michael Thomas was the crown jewel of the class. At his peak, he was the greatest receiver in Saints history, and his 2019 season was the stuff of franchise lore: 1,795 yards and 156 catches, which broke the single-season receptions record.
Injuries and off-the-field issues eventually derailed his career, and he hasn’t played since 2023. Even so, the former Offensive Player of the Year was an exceptional selection.
Grade: A+
Vonn Bell gave New Orleans four dependable seasons at safety and was a key part of the defense from 2016 to 2019. He later moved on to the Cincinnati Bengals and Carolina Panthers and added five more successful seasons to his NFL resume.
He is now coaching safeties at the University of Colorado under Deion Sanders. His Saints tenure was limited, but the impact was real.
Grade: B
David Onyemata may not have produced flashy headlines, but he has been a strong interior force. The 6-foot-4, 300-pound defensive tackle spent seven seasons with the Saints and recorded 23 sacks.
He has played the last three years in Atlanta and recently signed a one-year deal with the New York Jets. His production has tracked closely with Sheldon Rankins, and because he came off the board in the fourth round, that value pushes him a bit higher.
Daniel Lasco’s NFL run never really got going. He finished with 11 career rushes for 32 yards and last appeared in 2017, when he had no carries at all. It wasn’t a difference-making pick, but for a seventh-rounder, that kind of outcome isn’t unexpected.
Grade: D+
In Other News...
Saints Still Have One Veteran Receiver Decision Hanging Over Camp
The Saints head into camp with a receiver room that already leans young, which is why the idea of adding another veteran keeps resurfacing. New Orleans has been linked with a possible depth-and-mentorship fit as the team sorts through its pass-catching options, and the conversation has only grown more relevant with the Chargers reportedly not planning to bring in any more wideouts of their own.
Kellen Moore has at least left the door open, even while acknowledging the Saints already have a lot of receivers on hand. For a team trying to balance development, depth and experience, that kind of flexibility matters, especially if the right veteran becomes available and lines up with what the Saints want from the position. [Read more 🡒]
Bryce Youngs Situation Just Changed In A Way Panthers Fans Will Feel
The quarterback picture around the NFC South keeps taking small but meaningful turns, and the latest one centers on Bryce Young and the Carolina offense. The Panthers have moved play-calling duties from head coach Dave Canales to offensive coordinator Brad Idzik, a change that Young says still leaves the offense in a familiar place because the system and overall approach have not been shaken up.
For Carolina, the bigger story may be stability rather than a dramatic reset, especially with Canales shifting more of his attention to individual player development. In the same division, the Falcons are bracing for possible turbulence on defense and at quarterback, while the Saints are sorting out their own depth chart behind Tyler Shough and Zach Wilson, making every bit of continuity count as the season gets closer. [Read more 🡒]
Drew Brees Gave The Saints More Than A Franchise Quarterback
Long before he became the face of the franchise, Drew Brees and his wife Brittany already felt a pull toward New Orleans, and that mattered when he arrived in 2006. For the Saints, it was never just about adding a quarterback. It was about bringing in a player whose preparation, leadership and daily example helped change the expectations inside the building, while his relationship with Sean Payton quickly gave the team a shared standard to chase.
Mickey Loomis and others in the organization have long pointed to Brees arrival as something bigger than football, because the impact reached beyond the huddle and into the city itself. He became part of the sense of hope New Orleans was looking for, and the Saints rise under him reflected how one player can alter not only wins and losses but the culture around an entire organization. [Read more 🡒]