If it felt like the New Orleans Saints had one of the most impactful rookie classes in the NFL this season, that feeling wasn’t just a hunch - the numbers back it up. In fact, by at least one comprehensive ranking, the Saints’ 2025 draft haul stood above the rest of the league.
According to a detailed analysis that factors in Total Points from Sports Info Solutions, ESPN’s tracking data, positional value, and the DVOA metric, New Orleans landed at No. 1 in the NFL for rookie class production. And they earned that spot not just because of one or two standout performances, but because of meaningful contributions across the board.
Let’s start at the top. Quarterback Tyler Shough and left tackle Kelvin Banks - the Saints’ first two picks - didn’t just play; they elevated the offense.
Shough, in particular, turned heads as a midseason starter who quickly made his mark. Despite starting only nine games, he was named a finalist for NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year, and for good reason.
He led all rookie quarterbacks in passing yards per game (216.7) and completion percentage (67.6%), while finishing just a hair behind Giants QB Jaxson Dart in passer rating (91.3 to 91.7). Most importantly, Shough went 5-4 in his starts - the only rookie QB to post a winning record in games he started.
That kind of poise and production from a first-year quarterback is rare. And it’s even more impressive considering he wasn’t a full-season starter. Add in Banks, who held down the blindside with the kind of maturity and consistency you don’t often see from a rookie left tackle, and you’ve got two foundational pieces at premium positions - a dream scenario for a team looking to fast-track its rebuild.
But this class wasn’t just about the headliners. Safety Jonas Sanker stepped into a starting role in Week 2 after Julian Blackmon went down with a season-ending shoulder injury, and he didn’t look back. Sanker finished the year as one of only five rookies to record at least 80 tackles and two interceptions - a strong indicator of both his range and his instincts on the back end.
Cornerback Quincy Riley also made a strong impression. After being thrust into a starting role early in the season, he finished fourth among all rookies in passes defended (10), showcasing the kind of ball skills and awareness that suggest he could be a long-term fixture in the secondary.
Linebacker Danny Stutsman didn’t see a ton of snaps - just 19% of the Saints’ defensive plays - but he still managed to finish eighth among rookie linebackers in tackles (53). That kind of production in limited action hints at a player who could take on a bigger role in the near future.
Even beyond those five, the Saints got something out of nearly every member of their rookie class. All nine draft picks saw the field at some point this season. While seventh-rounders Moliki Matavao and Fadil Diggs spent much of the year on the practice squad, and third-rounder Vernon Broughton missed most of the season with a hip injury, the fact that the entire class contributed in some way speaks to the depth and quality of the group.
Pro Football Reference’s Approximate Value (AV) metric - which attempts to quantify a player’s overall value to his team - backs up the impact. The Saints had three rookies with an AV of 6 or better: Shough (7), Banks (6), and Sanker (7). Only two other teams - the Patriots (4) and Bears (3) - had as many or more.
The Saints weren’t alone in finding immediate impact from their rookie class. The NFC South as a whole showed out in the rankings, with the Panthers and Falcons landing in the top six as well.
Carolina’s Tetairoa McMillan and Tampa Bay’s Emeka Egbuka both made strong cases for Offensive Rookie of the Year consideration - with McMillan likely taking home the award. Atlanta, meanwhile, found three defensive gems in James Pearce (rookie-high 10.5 sacks), Xavier Watts (rookie-high 5 interceptions), and Jalon Walker.
Still, it was New Orleans that set the bar. With a rookie quarterback who looks like he belongs, a left tackle who’s already playing like a veteran, and a handful of defensive contributors who made real noise, the Saints didn’t just draft for the future - they drafted for right now. And it paid off.