Saints Need Patience, But Improvement, From Young Players

Rapid improvement is needed from two recent Saints draft picks, but here's why it's way too early to label them as busts.

Not every rookie is an immediate success in the NFL. Granted, many high draft choices turn out to be busts. However, several others wind up being very good players, or even stars, after a rough season or two. 

New Orleans Saints history is littered with high round draft busts. First-round failures like RB Vaughn Dunbar, DE Shawn Knight, LB Alvin Toles, WR Lindsay Scott, P/K Russell Erxleben, WR Larry Burton, G Kurt Schmacher, G Royce Smith, and LB Les Kelley still gives older fans unpleasant flashbacks. 

Since the turn of the century, DT Johnathan Sullivan, DT Sedrick Ellis, CB Patrick Robinson, LB Stephone Anthony, and DE Marcus Davenport added their names to that dubious list of first-round busts. Third-year DE Payton Turner looks on the verge of joining them. Guard Cesar Ruiz nearly joined the list before a breakout third season in 2022 that earned him a lucrative contract extension. 

Ruiz, a first-round choice in 2020, is a great example of a late-bloomer. Yet, several fans (and even some media) are already calling for the oust of two recent high draft choices who have gotten off to slow starts.

Isaiah Foskey, DE

Aug 27, 2023; New Orleans Saints defensive end Isaiah Foskey (55) rushes against Houston Texans guard Tyler Beach (65). Mandatory Credit: Stephen Lew-USA TODAY Sports

This year's second-round pick from Notre Dame has yet to even play a regular season game. That hasn't stopped some from already calling him a bust.

Foskey had 21 sacks, 26.5 tackles for loss, and forced six fumbles over his final two collegiate seasons. He's a long athlete that showed good bend and burst off the edge as a pass rusher and good closing speed against the run.

Foskey got off to a slow start to training camp and looked lost in the first preseason game. He showed nice progress towards the end of camp and had a sack along with three pressures and a tackle for loss over the last two contests. 

New Orleans made Foskey a game day inactive during their season-opening win against Tennessee. With DE Payton Turner now out several weeks with a toe injury, more is now expected from their 2023 second-round selection. 

An excellent athlete, Foskey must get adjust to the general speed at the NFL level. He'll need to shed blocks more consistently, set a better anchor against the run, and play to his instincts as a pass rusher. 

Even once activated, the Saints can afford to bring Foskey along somewhat slowly. New Orleans still has Cameron Jordan, Carl Granderson, and Tanoh Kpassagnon along the edge. Expect Foskey to be used as a situational pass rusher or in specific packages as he develops. 

Trevor Penning, LT 

November 27, 2022; San Francisco 49ers defensive end Nick Bosa (97) rushes against New Orleans Saints tackle Trevor Penning (70). Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

New Orleans maneuvered their way up in the 2022 NFL Draft to obtain two first round picks. With their first, the 11th overall selection, they chose WR Chris Olave. At the Number 19 pick, the Saints opted for Northern Iowa OT Trevor Penning. 

After a solid preseason in 2022, Penning suffered an injury to his left foot that forced him to miss the first 11 games of his rookie year. Upon his return, he'd play just 66 total snaps over his first five games before getting his first career start in the regular season finale. There, he suffered a Lisfranc injury to his right foot that limited his offseason workouts. 

Penning was inserted as the starter at left tackle entering training camp. His prowess as a run blocker has been immediately evident, but he struggled in pass protection. He showed moderate improvement in that area toward the end of camp.

In Sunday's regular season opener against Tennessee, Penning struggled mightily. He gave up three sacks and several other pressures, making journeyman DE Arden Key look like an All-Pro. Penning's performance as a run blocker wasn't much better. 

Remember that Penning is still essentially a rookie. He was making just his second career start and appearing in only his seventh NFL game. Additionally, he's also dealing with a major jump in the level of competition from FCS Northern Iowa to the NFL.

At 6'7" and 321-Lbs., Penning is a mauler and plays with a nasty demeanor as a run blocker. He also has the agile feet and impressive power to develop in pass protection. There will be some growing pains, but he has the physical tools to earn his status as a first-round choice. 

Patience Needed

Nov 7, 2021; Atlanta Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan (2) is sacked by New Orleans Saints defensive end Cameron Jordan (94). Mandatory Credit: Chuck Cook-USA TODAY Sports

The rapid improvement of both these players, especially Penning, is certainly important to New Orleans success in 2023. Other than Cesar Ruiz, there are other prime examples why fans should also be patient with Penning and Foskey. 

In 2011, a New Orleans first-round pick named Cam Jordan had just one sack, four QB hits, and two tackles for loss as a rookie. Jordan has gone on to have 116 sacks over a legendary 13-year career as one of the finest players in franchise history and a probable Hall of Famer.

New Orleans made Louisiana Tech OT Willie Roaf the eighth overall selection in the 1993 NFL Draft. Roaf had a solid but inconsistent year as a rookie right tackle. In 1994 he was moved to left tackle, where he'd go on to a 13-year Hall of Fame career and recognized as one of the best offensive linemen in NFL history. 

Kyle Turley was the seventh overall choice by the Saints in the 1998 NFL Draft. He played well enough in his first season to be voted onto the 1998 NFL All-Rookie Team. However, it was as a guard after preseason struggles at tackle. He was moved to right tackle in 1999, where he'd remain throughout most of a terrific eight-year career. 

Nov 30, 1997; FILE PHOTO; New Orleans Saints tackle Willie Roaf (77) in action against the Carolina Panthers. Mandatory Credit: USA TODAY Sports

Terron Armstead and Trey Hendrickson weren't first round picks. Each were third-round choices from small schools who still came in with somewhat lofty expectations. 

Armstead appeared in just six contests as a rookie and was still extremely inconsistent during his first two years as a starter. He'd go on to be considered one of the best offensive linemen in team history. 

Hendrickson was a situational player, at best, over his first three seasons. In 2020, he had a major breakout with 13.5 sacks and 33 pressures. He vastly outplayed highly touted 2018 first-round choice Marcus Davenport on his way to a huge free-agent deal with Cincinnati. 

Nobody is saying that Foskey will be another Cam Jordan, that Penning will be another Willie Roaf, or that either will even achieve the same success levels of Armstead, Turley, Ruiz, and Hendrickson. While their development is crucial to the Saints success, it's also way too early to label either player among the busts in team history.