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The 2025 NFL draft is inching closer by the day, and we've got another New Orleans Saints mock draft to help the time pass a little faster. So where do we see the Saints making moves in this draft? Where could they look to trade up the board (knowing Mickey Loomis, they'll never trade down with him as general manager)? Which positions can they address now, and which problems will they have to deal with another day?
We'll answer all those questions (or at least give our best guesses) one at a time. But this latest Saints mock draft begins with a hot topic of discussion:
I traded up for Sanders in a recent NFL Wires Network mock draft, but the hesitance our other team site managers had to draft him leads me to think he'll make it to No. 9 without much fuss. And this could be a good pick for the Saints. If he develops as hoped this could be a really good pick. Derek Carr isn't long for New Orleans, even if there's not much of a way to get out of his contract this season. So we'll give Sanders a year to learn from the sidelines, or at least until Carr misses time. He's dealt with a lot of injuries the last two years and isn't getting younger. Don't be shocked if this develops into a Joe Flacco-to-Lamar Jackson situation where the veteran starter is replaced midway through the year. It's also possible another team tries to trade for Carr when it's more feasible after June 1, but I'm not holding my breath.
Remaining draft picks:
Riley shouldn't be overlooked in this cornerbacks class; the Saints certainly aren't sleeping on him after they brought him into town for an official pre-draft visit. And it's easy to see why when you look at his history. Riley was a playmaker in the Louisville secondary the last three years, breaking up 27 passes in 37 games while leaving school with 8 interceptions. He'll compete with Isaac Yiadom to start right away opposite Kool-Aid McKinstry, and that's a battle he should be expected to win after playing so well in college. There are a couple of corners in play here like Trey Amos (Ole Miss) and Shavon Revel Jr. (Eastern Carolina), but Riley is who we're highlighting this week.
Remaining draft picks:
We packaged one of our fourth-round picks (No. 112) with our third rounder at No. 71 to move back into the second round, acquiring No. 56 in a trade with the Buffalo Bills. Why did we do that? To take a big step towards fixing the offensive line. Ersery may want to stay outside at tackle but his traits suggest he could be an exceptional left guard; he's surprisingly light on his feet for a 6-foot-6, 330 pounder and sets the tone with heavy hands. Trevor Penning is entering a contract year and if he leaves in 2026, the Saints could move Taliese Fuaga back to his college position at right tackle while starting Ersery on the left side. If Penning plays well enough to stay on a new deal? Ersery can prove just how great he can be at guard.
Remaining draft picks:
The Saints need more juice in the backfield, and Martinez has plenty of it. He fights hard for yards after contact and does a great job forcing missed tackles by the defense. He can immediately bring some pop as Alvin Kamara's tag-team partner after scoring 26 touchdown runs and breaking off for 92 carries of 10-plus yards the last three years. He just might develop into the lead back in the group if he can make strides on blitz pickup and earn his quarterback's trust on third downs.
Remaining draft picks:
We traded next year's fourth-round pick and one of our seventh rounders in this draft to get back on the board early in Round 4. And we did that to get one of the draft's more dynamic safeties. Ransom (great name for a defensive back) ended his 56-game Buckeyes career with 6 forced fumbles, 13 passes broken up, and 18 tackles for loss -- plus 227 tackles, having appeared regularly in the secondary since 2021. He's a good athlete and has all the ability to suggest he can develop into an heir-apparent for Tyrann Mathieu. As a rookie, he'll be expected to compete with Jordan Howden to run in the team's nickel and dime packages while playing a lot of snaps on special teams.
Remaining draft picks:
It's funny -- this came down to Howard or Kyle McCord, the Syracuse quarterback who previously played at Ohio State. Remember how Washington drafted Robert Griffin III early on, then doubled down later with Kirk Cousins? That's the thinking here. We probably could have traded ahead to get Quinn Ewers in Round 3 but I'm not that great a believer in him. Maybe Kellen Moore is. Moore likes Howard, too, and was seen talking to him intently at Ohio State's pro day. Howard played out of his gourd in the Buckeyes' final four games, and you'd like to think he can carry that momentum over after turning pro. We'll see how he does competing with Spencer Rattler and Jake Haener over the next few months. Moore is going to want to build his own QB room and adding both Sanders and Howard will do a lot to accomplish that. Guys who weren't drafted by him are on notice.
Remaining draft picks:
There were a couple of receivers we considered here, but Sheppard just stands out too much. He produced at Vanderbilt, he produced at Colorado, and the Saints have paid him a lot of attention after working him out at their local pro day (he's from Madisonville, La. and went to Mandeville High School) and sending WR coach Keith Williams to see him again at Colorado's pro day. He's been a reliable target at the college level and would tower over his new teammates in the Saints receivers room at 6-foot-2 and 198 pounds. With that said, we could be talked into someone like Andrew Armstrong (Arkansas) at this spot instead. Sheppard just feels like someone hot on New Orleans' radar.
Remaining draft picks:
Brinson has been buried on Georgia's depth chart, but that's the case for a lot of good future pros. It's tough to make many plays when there are future first rounders like Mykel Williams and Jalon Walker flying around. Brinson is an all-around solid defensive tackle who can stop the run and push the pocket, and he'd be a better option to round out the depth chart in New Orleans than some guys currently on the roster. The Saints hosted him at a team dinner with other Bulldogs and reportedly plan to work him out privately before the draft. Maybe they see something here.
Remaining draft picks:
We didn't achieve all of our goals in this mock draft, but we did get a lot done. I'd still like to add another edge defender and find a linebacker who can step in for Demario Davis in a year or two, but that's just how it shook out this time. Maybe the Saints can sign someone like Matthew Judon after the draft. We got much more dynamic and tougher in the trenches offensively while improving team speed in the defensive secondary. This draft haul would at least restock the depth chart at some places they've been running thin while buying time for Sanders to develop into a ready-to-play starter. As for Derek Carr? The clock is already ticking.
This article originally appeared on Saints Wire: 2025 mock draft: Where do Saints go after picking Shedeur Sanders?
Continue reading...
We'll answer all those questions (or at least give our best guesses) one at a time. But this latest Saints mock draft begins with a hot topic of discussion:
Round 1, Pick 9: QB Shedeur Sanders, Colorado
I traded up for Sanders in a recent NFL Wires Network mock draft, but the hesitance our other team site managers had to draft him leads me to think he'll make it to No. 9 without much fuss. And this could be a good pick for the Saints. If he develops as hoped this could be a really good pick. Derek Carr isn't long for New Orleans, even if there's not much of a way to get out of his contract this season. So we'll give Sanders a year to learn from the sidelines, or at least until Carr misses time. He's dealt with a lot of injuries the last two years and isn't getting younger. Don't be shocked if this develops into a Joe Flacco-to-Lamar Jackson situation where the veteran starter is replaced midway through the year. It's also possible another team tries to trade for Carr when it's more feasible after June 1, but I'm not holding my breath.
Remaining draft picks:
- Round 2, Pick 40
- Round 3, Pick 71
- Round 3, Pick 93
- Round 4, Pick 112
- Round 4, Pick 131
- Round 6, Pick 184
- Round 7, Pick 248
- Round 7, Pick 254
- 2026 draft: Rounds 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 (plus a projected compensatory pick in Round 4)
- 2027 draft: Rounds 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7
Round 2, Pick 40: CB Quincy Riley, Louisville
Riley shouldn't be overlooked in this cornerbacks class; the Saints certainly aren't sleeping on him after they brought him into town for an official pre-draft visit. And it's easy to see why when you look at his history. Riley was a playmaker in the Louisville secondary the last three years, breaking up 27 passes in 37 games while leaving school with 8 interceptions. He'll compete with Isaac Yiadom to start right away opposite Kool-Aid McKinstry, and that's a battle he should be expected to win after playing so well in college. There are a couple of corners in play here like Trey Amos (Ole Miss) and Shavon Revel Jr. (Eastern Carolina), but Riley is who we're highlighting this week.
Remaining draft picks:
- Round 3, Pick 71
- Round 3, Pick 93
- Round 4, Pick 112
- Round 4, Pick 131
- Round 6, Pick 184
- Round 7, Pick 248
- Round 7, Pick 254
- 2026 draft: Rounds 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 (plus a projected compensatory pick in Round 4)
- 2027 draft: Rounds 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7
Trade: Round 2, Pick 56: OL Aireontae Ersery, Minnesota
We packaged one of our fourth-round picks (No. 112) with our third rounder at No. 71 to move back into the second round, acquiring No. 56 in a trade with the Buffalo Bills. Why did we do that? To take a big step towards fixing the offensive line. Ersery may want to stay outside at tackle but his traits suggest he could be an exceptional left guard; he's surprisingly light on his feet for a 6-foot-6, 330 pounder and sets the tone with heavy hands. Trevor Penning is entering a contract year and if he leaves in 2026, the Saints could move Taliese Fuaga back to his college position at right tackle while starting Ersery on the left side. If Penning plays well enough to stay on a new deal? Ersery can prove just how great he can be at guard.
Remaining draft picks:
- Round 3, Pick 93
- Round 4, Pick 131
- Round 6, Pick 184
- Round 7, Pick 248
- Round 7, Pick 254
- 2026 draft: Rounds 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 (plus a projected compensatory pick in Round 4)
- 2027 draft: Rounds 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7
Round 3, Pick 93: RB Damien Martinez, Miami
The Saints need more juice in the backfield, and Martinez has plenty of it. He fights hard for yards after contact and does a great job forcing missed tackles by the defense. He can immediately bring some pop as Alvin Kamara's tag-team partner after scoring 26 touchdown runs and breaking off for 92 carries of 10-plus yards the last three years. He just might develop into the lead back in the group if he can make strides on blitz pickup and earn his quarterback's trust on third downs.
Remaining draft picks:
- Round 4, Pick 131
- Round 6, Pick 184
- Round 7, Pick 248
- Round 7, Pick 254
- 2026 draft: Rounds 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 (plus a projected compensatory pick in Round 4)
- 2027 draft: Rounds 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7
Trade: Round 4, Pick 104: S Lathan Ransom, Ohio State
We traded next year's fourth-round pick and one of our seventh rounders in this draft to get back on the board early in Round 4. And we did that to get one of the draft's more dynamic safeties. Ransom (great name for a defensive back) ended his 56-game Buckeyes career with 6 forced fumbles, 13 passes broken up, and 18 tackles for loss -- plus 227 tackles, having appeared regularly in the secondary since 2021. He's a good athlete and has all the ability to suggest he can develop into an heir-apparent for Tyrann Mathieu. As a rookie, he'll be expected to compete with Jordan Howden to run in the team's nickel and dime packages while playing a lot of snaps on special teams.
Remaining draft picks:
- Round 4, Pick 131
- Round 6, Pick 184
- Round 7, Pick 254
- 2026 draft: Rounds 1, 2, 3, 5, and 6 (plus a projected compensatory pick in Round 4)
- 2027 draft: Rounds 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7
Round 4, Pick 131: QB Will Howard, Ohio State
It's funny -- this came down to Howard or Kyle McCord, the Syracuse quarterback who previously played at Ohio State. Remember how Washington drafted Robert Griffin III early on, then doubled down later with Kirk Cousins? That's the thinking here. We probably could have traded ahead to get Quinn Ewers in Round 3 but I'm not that great a believer in him. Maybe Kellen Moore is. Moore likes Howard, too, and was seen talking to him intently at Ohio State's pro day. Howard played out of his gourd in the Buckeyes' final four games, and you'd like to think he can carry that momentum over after turning pro. We'll see how he does competing with Spencer Rattler and Jake Haener over the next few months. Moore is going to want to build his own QB room and adding both Sanders and Howard will do a lot to accomplish that. Guys who weren't drafted by him are on notice.
Remaining draft picks:
- Round 6, Pick 184
- Round 7, Pick 254
- 2026 draft: Rounds 1, 2, 3, 5, and 6 (plus a projected compensatory pick in Round 4)
- 2027 draft: Rounds 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7
Round 6, Pick 184: WR Will Sheppard, Colorado
There were a couple of receivers we considered here, but Sheppard just stands out too much. He produced at Vanderbilt, he produced at Colorado, and the Saints have paid him a lot of attention after working him out at their local pro day (he's from Madisonville, La. and went to Mandeville High School) and sending WR coach Keith Williams to see him again at Colorado's pro day. He's been a reliable target at the college level and would tower over his new teammates in the Saints receivers room at 6-foot-2 and 198 pounds. With that said, we could be talked into someone like Andrew Armstrong (Arkansas) at this spot instead. Sheppard just feels like someone hot on New Orleans' radar.
Remaining draft picks:
- Round 7, Pick 254
- 2026 draft: Rounds 1, 2, 3, 5, and 6 (plus a projected compensatory pick in Round 4)
- 2027 draft: Rounds 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7
Round 7, Pick 254: DT Warren Brinson, Georgia
Brinson has been buried on Georgia's depth chart, but that's the case for a lot of good future pros. It's tough to make many plays when there are future first rounders like Mykel Williams and Jalon Walker flying around. Brinson is an all-around solid defensive tackle who can stop the run and push the pocket, and he'd be a better option to round out the depth chart in New Orleans than some guys currently on the roster. The Saints hosted him at a team dinner with other Bulldogs and reportedly plan to work him out privately before the draft. Maybe they see something here.
Remaining draft picks:
- 2026 draft: Rounds 1, 2, 3, 5, and 6 (plus a projected compensatory pick in Round 4)
- 2027 draft: Rounds 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7
Recapping our draft
- Round 1, Pick 9: QB Shedeur Sanders, Colorado
- Round 2, Pick 40: CB Quincy Riley, Louisville
- Round 2, Pick 56: OL Aireontae Ersery, Minnesota
- Round 3, Pick 93: RB Damien Martinez, Miami
- Round 4, Pick 104: S Lathan Ransom, Ohio State
- Round 4, Pick 131: QB Will Howard, Ohio State
- Round 6, Pick 184: WR Will Sheppard, Colorado
- Round 7, Pick 254: DT Warren Brinson, Georgia
We didn't achieve all of our goals in this mock draft, but we did get a lot done. I'd still like to add another edge defender and find a linebacker who can step in for Demario Davis in a year or two, but that's just how it shook out this time. Maybe the Saints can sign someone like Matthew Judon after the draft. We got much more dynamic and tougher in the trenches offensively while improving team speed in the defensive secondary. This draft haul would at least restock the depth chart at some places they've been running thin while buying time for Sanders to develop into a ready-to-play starter. As for Derek Carr? The clock is already ticking.
This article originally appeared on Saints Wire: 2025 mock draft: Where do Saints go after picking Shedeur Sanders?
Continue reading...
