Nola.com/Josh Katzenstein

The New Orleans Saints will enter the 2019 draft without a first-round pick, but based on recent history, that could actually be a good thing for the team next season.

During the past five seasons, 12 of 16 teams without a first-round pick advanced to the playoffs the same season. Extend it back to the past 10 seasons and 21 of 34 teams without a first-rounder made it to the postseason.

The recent success of these teams will have no bearing on what the Saints do in 2019, but there is a track record for success despite not having a first-round pick. The Saints already have a strong talent core boosted heavily by recent draft picks, and with many young players helping the team make the playoffs the past two years, there’s plenty of reason to be optimistic about next season.

In 2018, all four teams that didn’t make a selection in the first round made it to the playoffs, and these teams help explain why the data favors teams lacking a high pick. The Texans and Chiefs both gave up last year’s first-round pick in 2017 in trades that landed them their current franchise quarterbacks, Deshaun Watson and Patrick Mahomes, respectively. The Rams traded their away to acquire wide receiver Brandin Cooks. The Eagles gave their first-round pick to the Ravens in an exchange of multiple picks.

Read more