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Let’s see how this goes.
The 2025
NFL Draft is almost here, and with the
New Orleans Saints entering a new era of football, this draft will be pivotal for the team’s future. Also, with the draft almost upon us, it is the perfect time to do my final 2025 mock draft.
Round 1, Pick 9 - QB Shedeur Sanders
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The Saints have done extensive homework on the quarterback prospects in this year’s draft, and at this point, it is less of a question of whether they will select a QB than when they will select one. This could easily happen on Days 2 and 3 of the draft, but there is a scenario where it could happen at pick 9.
In recent weeks, the sentiment around
Shedeur Sanders’ draft position has changed. Initially, it was thought the
Browns or Giants could select the Colorado QB, and that could still happen, but that belief has definitely cooled off. Sanders’ draft stock has dropped, and the Saints are in a perfect spot to take advantage of this. Since entering college, Sanders has elevated every program he has been a part of. Yes, people may attribute that to Deion Sanders being the head coach or Travis Hunter, but Shedeur has a real ability to elevate the talent around him and make receivers look much better. When throwing, Sanders puts his wide receivers in positions to make the play and can also keep them away from dangerous contact. He makes quick decisions, is accurate with the ball, and can go through his progressions. Sanders will not be a quarterback who can escape and run for 15 yards with ease, but there is still some mobility in his game. The main worry with his game is taking sacks and drifting back in the pocket. The Colorado offensive line was not good, but there were still times when Sanders put himself in bad situations. The good news is that with the Saints, Sanders will have time to work on that.
Selecting a QB here at 9 may be a bit rich for the Saints, but a team without a long-term answer needs to always look for the next franchise QB. New Orleans is also in the perfect scenario to bring a top QB prospect in. Derek Carr is going to be the starter in 2025, so Sanders will not need to start right away. Like any other QB prospect in this draft, development is definitely needed for Sanders, so keeping him behind Carr of a year is a perfect scenario. Also, the Saints’ offensive coaching staff is built to focus on QB development. Still, the only way this selection should and could happen is if Kellen Moore fully believes in Sanders. If there is any doubt from Moore, the Saints should move on from this selection and choose another prospect.
Round 2, Pick 40 - TE Mason Taylor
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With the Saints going with QB at 9, there are still an overwhelming amount of positions that need to be addressed to win in 2025. Pick 40 is an interesting spot for New Orleans, but going with the best player available here makes sense, and that was TE
Mason Taylor. At
LSU, Taylor has been a starter for his whole college career and left being one of the most productive TEs in school history. As a receiver, Taylor is amazing after the catch, is a threat all over the field, can make contested catches, and adjust to throws. He was also one of the most reliable TEs in college football last season. When blocking, Taylor has been good, but could still see some improvement in that area.
In the first round, Tyler Warren could have been the selection for the Saints, and it makes sense why TE would be a position to target. Kellen Moore values TEs in his offense, and without real contested catch threats on this offense, adding one to be partnered with Juwan Johnson could elevate the scheme. Outside of play on the field, Taylor participated at the
Senior Bowl, which the Saints value. He is also from Louisiana and played at LSU. This is now something to note because the Saints have seemingly focused on that aspect when adding new players to the roster.
Round 3, Pick 71 - OLB Josaiah Stewart
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Before this mock, the Saints had two third round selections in this year’s draft (little spoiler alert for a trade a bit later). I considered packaging these picks to get up into the second round, but with how many positions to be upgraded on the roster, it really made no sense to do it. I would rather the Saints have as many top-100 picks as they can, so after sticking and picking here,
Josaiah Stewart was the selection. Stewart is one of my favorite prospects in the draft, and getting him at 71 is a steal. The Michigan OLB had an extremely productive college career, finishing with 30 sacks in 4 years. Even when being next to two potential first-rounders, Mason Graham and Kenneth Grant, Stewart shined as a game wrecker off the edge. Being only 6-foot-1, 250 lbs., Stewart is undersized, which could be a worry in run defense, but as a pure pass rusher, he is everything a defensive coordinator would want. He has great pass rush moves, speed and burst, ability to utilize power, and good bend around the corner. Stewart can also drop into coverage if needed. As far as the scheme goes, Stewart should be used as a 3-4 OLB.
One of the positions the Saints are missing entering the draft is OLB. New defensive coordinator Brandon Staley wants to utilize more of a 3-4 scheme, but the roster is missing the OLBs needed for that to happen. This may be a sign that the team will slowly transition into that scheme and not make massive changes for next season, but drafting someone who can speed up that process is smart. Josaiah Stewart would be that player and shine as a pass rusher for a team really lacking the sack production that he can bring. His size may make improving in run defense difficult, but being used as that pure pass rusher in Staley’s scheme could get the best out of him.
Round 3, Pick 93 - OG Dylan Fairchild
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Offensive line has been in play at every other pick so far in the mock draft, and it makes sense why. The signing of Dillon Radunz at LG is a potential short term fix, but the Saints should not feel super comfortable with that. New Orleans can select a rookie to have as competition for that starting spot and be a potential long term answer at LG. Usually, in the third round, I prefer to select an offensive line prospect with both guard and tackle flexibility. This is in case of Trevor Penning does not make the needed improvements, the Saints need to find an answer at RT. Instead, this time around, I made this pick with the belief that Penning can secure that spot, or the Saints will just deal with it next season. So, sticking with a pure guard, I have the Saints selecting
Dylan Fairchild. At Georgia, Fairchild was the starting LG and part of a dominant guard duo with fellow Bulldog Tate Ratledge. At LG, Fairchild is a great pass protector with a nice ability to use his hands to stop pass rushers and not allow pressure. Sometimes his leverage is not what you want to see, or he gets pushed back way too much, but working on technique and getting stronger at the next level can fix those issues. Fairchild can hold his own as a run blocker, but he definitely needs to work on improving in that area.
Like many later third round selections, Fairchild will need development at the next level, but the Saints are in a great situation for him to do that. There is no need to rush him into that starting LG spot immediately. Although it would be amazing if he does look like the clear starter in training camp, that should not be the expectation. Dillon Radunz being the starter for a year, which is the length of his contract, can allow Fairchild to sit and develop for a year. If needed, he can slot in if an injury occurs.
Round 3, Pick 94 (Trade) - RB Cam Skattebo
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This will be the first trade of the mock draft, which I hinted at earlier. The Saints have eight selections in this year’s draft, and I doubt they keep all of their picks. With that in mind, getting another top 100 pick by packaging a couple of picks, especially if a player the Saints love is available, would make sense. For this trade with the Cleveland Browns, I sent away #112 and a 2026 fourth round pick for #94. Sending future capital is always a worry, but the Saints are set to get a fourth round compensatory pick because of Paulson Adebo signing with the Giants.
This trade was made with the intent of getting a specific player: RB
Cam Skattebo. The ASU star burst onto the scene in 2024/25 and led his team to the college football playoffs. At 5-10 and 219 lbs, Skattebo is undersized, and his athleticism is nothing to write home about. This may be one of the reasons he drops in the draft, but on the field, Skattebo is a game-changer. His ability to deal with contact makes defenders miss tackles consistently, and if ASU needed to pick up short yardage, they went to Skattebo. He also had 21 rushing touchdowns last season. The other aspect of Skattebo’s game that sticks out is his pass catching. He is a real receiving threat, which creates some versatility for him in the offensive scheme. Speed is going to be an issue with Skattebo. He is definitely not going to be a running back who can speed past defenders and break away for long touchdowns just because of that trait. Still, even with that issue in his game, Skattebo finds ways to make plays out of nothing.
Running back is not a massive need for the Saints, but in a class filled with so much talent, New Orleans should look at opportunities to come away with one of these prospects. Regarding the current roster, Alvin Kamara is getting older, and Kendre Miller has been unable to stay healthy, so running back can easily become a massive need soon. Skattebo would be a great rushing partner with Kamara and his redzone ability could be vital when Taysom Hill is out on plays.
Round 4, Pick 119 (Trade) - CB Quincy Riley
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Cornerback is the final prominent position of need for the Saints in this draft, and waiting for pick 131 was just too risky. Louisville CB
Quincey Riley is still on the board, so I packaged #131 and #184 to get up and select him at 119, which was the Bengals’ pick.
Riley is undersized, but he makes it up with his coverage in both man and zone. In the air, he has excellent skills and can track the ball with ease. Focusing on man coverage, Riley does well in staying with receivers and not getting beat. In zone, Riley is great at jumping the route or breaking up the pass from behind. Tackling is a massive issue with him, and if he wants to be a consistent starter in the league, he needs to improve in that area.
With this selection, the Saints will need to develop Riley, but he could start right away as the 4th cornerback to learn behind Isaac Yiadom. Starting a rookie cornerback to be that number 1 or 2 guy is always a risk because of how hit or miss the position is and how much development some CBs need. Even if the Saints invested a second round pick in this position, I would still want the team to go out and sign another starting CB before the season started.
Round 7, Pick 232 (Trade) - WR Will Sheppard
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The third trade and final selection of the NFL draft is coming in the seventh round. The Saints really do not need two seventh round picks, so trading up for a guy the team likes by packaging both picks makes sense. Like with the previous trade, this will be with the Bengals. The Saints traded away #248 and #254 for #232, which allowed New Orleans to select Colorado WR
Will Sheppard. You may see the connection here, but if you do not, Sheppard was one of Shedeur Sanders’ main targets in college. Travis Hunter was the top weapon for Sanders, and LaJohntay Wester was second, but his fit in the Saints’ offense did not make sense.
At Colorado, Sheppard was the main contested catch threat on the roster, and it was evident how much trust Sanders had in the 6-foot-3 receiver. When it was a one-on-one matchup, Sanders knew he could throw the ball up, and Sheppard would adjust to make the catch. After the catch, Sheppard is not much of a threat, but for the Saints, that does not matter. Currently, the Saints have three receivers that fit similar roles: Chris Olave, Rashid Shaheed, and Brandin Cooks. New Orleans is missing a real contested catch threat, and although adding Mason Taylor earlier in this mock will help, adding a receiver that brings something else to that room will add some flexibility to the offense.
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