The 2014 NFL Draft class has proved to be one of the best, but the New Orleans Saints haven’t reaped the same benefits as many teams around the league.
Jadeveon Clowney, Khalil Mack and Zack Martin highlight some of the studs picked in the first round of the 2014 NFL Draft. In the first round, the New Orleans Saints selected wide receiver Brandin Cooks. The wideout from Oregon State far exceeded expectations.
He became Drew Brees’ No. 1 target and a virtual machine, racking up touchdown after touchdown. His reign would have continued into 2017, but the Saints traded Cooks to the Patriots and lost their biggest stud from the 2014 draft.
The Saints then addressed their defense in the second round. New Orleans selected Stanley Jean-Baptiste, hoping he’d become a key part of the secondary. Unfortunately, the cornerback never broke out and only appeared in four games with the black and gold. He was eventually released in 2015 and bounced around on other teams. He is currently a free agent.
After not having a pick in the third round, the Saints waited until Round 4 to select again, then taking linebacker Khairi Fortt. Fortt was poised to be another star to help bolster their defense until he was injured — or was he?
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There are conflicting reports on Fortt’s health during his time with the Saints, so it’s hard to decide who to believe. Amidst such unclarity, Fortt was released in October of the same year. He is currently a member of the Washington Redskins. He’s another dud from the 2014 class for the Saints, though.
New Orleans’ fifth-round pick was safety Vinnie Sunseri, a product of Alabama. During his time with the Crimson Tide, Sunseri was a huge contributor on defense and special teams. He was mostly known for his special teams’ contributions. Unfortunately, Sunseri appeared in only nine games before sustaining an arm injury. He was later released in September 2015, and is currently a member of the San Francisco 49ers.
With their second fifth-round selection, the Saints selected outside linebacker Ronald Powell. A former Florida Gator, Powell was injured in 2012 and played in 11 games during the 2013 season. Despite playing in 14 games for the Saints, he racked up just two tackles and was eventually released in September 2015. He now plays for the Seattle Seahawks.
Lastly, thee Saints used their sixth-round pick on offensive tackle Tavon Rooks. After spending two years at Kansas State, Rooks wasn’t a shoo-in for the NFL, but the Saints took a chance on him. Rooks only ever appeared in the preseason, failing to impress the Saints and was later added to the practice squad. He left the NFL after suffering a heart attack.
Next: NFL 2017: Each team's biggest question before training camp
Multiple teams rejoiced at their 2014 draft class, while the Saints ended up with the really short end of the stick. Their entire 2014 draft class is gone now, but there’s one bright spot. The Browns would sign wide receiver Willie Snead that year before releasing him. Now with the Saints, Snead is a top receiver and one of Brees’ favorite targets, so maybe it wasn’t so bad.