The New Orleans Saints didn’t get the help they needed to make the playoffs, but they did have a little luck when it came to their draft position.
Arizona Cardinals kicker Matt Prater missed a game-winning field goal attempt in Sunday’s 21-20 loss to the Seattle Seahawks, ensuring the Saints have the 14th overall pick in this year’s draft. If Seattle had lost, New Orleans would have been locked into the 15th pick. That’s not a huge difference, but after a 9-8 season, it's not bad given that the last five teams to earn the 14th pick all finished the prior season under .500.
The Saints last earned the 14th pick in 2009 — when they drafted safety Malcolm Jenkins. New Orleans also traded up to the spot in 2018 in a draft-day deal with the Minnesota Vikings to select pass-rusher Marcus Davenport.
The last five players to be drafted at No. 14 include: Baltimore Ravens safety Kyle Hamilton (2022), New York Jets guard Alijah Vera-Tucker (2021), San Francisco 49ers defensive tackle Javon Kinlaw (2020), Atlanta Falcons guard Chris Lindstrom (2019) and Davenport (2018).
Other notable players drafted with the 14th pick include: safety Earl Thomas (2010), cornerback Darrelle Revis (2007), linebacker Thomas Davis (2005) and quarterback Jim Kelly (1983).
The Saints do not have their second-round pick because of a 2022 trade with the Philadelphia Eagles, but they do own the Denver Broncos' second-rounder thanks to the Sean Payton trade last year. That pick will be the 13th pick of the second round, No. 45 overall. New Orleans currently doesn't have picks in the third or fourth rounds.
The NFL Draft takes place from April 25-27 in Detroit.