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It’s going to be tough for the New Orleans Saints front office to absorb the loss of personnel executive Terry Fontenot, but his rise to become the next Atlanta Falcons general manager does bring a slight silver lining: several compensatory draft picks.
Because the NFL implemented a new incentive to its minority candidates hiring policy, teams that lose those candidates to head coach or general manager positions will received two third-round draft picks in the next two years. It’s a way of encouraging teams to develop more prospects for other franchises to consider. Fontenot, who is Black, qualifies the Saints for that bonus.
For New Orleans, that means extra third rounders in both 2021 and 2022. The Saints are also expected to receive a 2021 third-round comp pick after Teddy Bridgewater signed with the Carolina Panthers last offseason. After trading their own initial pick in that round (which would have slotted in around No. 84), they’ll instead be making selections at the end of it, near pick No. 100. The exact draft order will be announced later this offseason.
Sure, they’d rather have Fontenot helping them identify talented free agents and additions to the roster. But they’ve made good use of their selections in the third round before, and these resources will be needed considering how close the team’s bookkeeping is running against the salary cap.
Recent Saints draft picks in the third round include Tre’Quan Smith (who caught two touchdown passes in the Saints’ playoffs loss), Alvin Kamara, Alex Anzalone, and Trey Hendrickson, as well as rookies Zack Baun and Adam Trautman. The Saints also have a history of trading these picks to move up the board, so keep that in mind as we move closer to the 2021 NFL draft.
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