While some experts have their reservations about the New Orleans Saints’ rookie class from this year’s NFL draft — ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. among them — others are taking a more optimsitic view.
The team at Pro Football Focus reflected well on the prospects New Orleans acquired, particularly first-round draft pick Cesar Ruiz, the center out of Michigan. All in all, PFF handed the Saints a ‘B’ grade for their performance.
Per PFF draft analyst Mike Renner:
“You weren’t going to get a talent like Ruiz later in the draft… He’s a guy I didn’t love at first because he’s not like Mekhi Becton, where you fall in love with one block. You’re going to fall in love with the fact that you’ve watched four games and didn’t see him have one really bad block. That’s Cesar Ruiz to me… He’s just smooth and good and always on balance… They got a very good player.”
Additionally, the picks the Saints made in the third round were each ranked among the five best prospects at their positions. Wisconsin defender Zack Baun graded fourth-best among linebacker options, whereas Dayton tight end Adam Trautman was the third-best. Not bad additions at all to one of the league’s deepest rosters.
