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The New Orleans Saints have done their homework on this year's quarterback class -- team personnel have flown out nationwide to meet with 2025 draft prospects from Southern Florida to South Dakota, and almost everywhere in-between. Whether or not he's able to draft a QB of the future who can challenge Derek Carr to start this year, it sure looks like first-year head coach Kellen Moore is preparing to shake up the quarterbacks room and get his own guys in place.
So who makes sense for them at different points in the draft? The Saints shouldn't put all of their eggs in one basket and plan on getting their guy in Round 1. They'll have plans to address the position throughout the draft, and even after it, if they need to. To that end, we're going to highlight prospects who are expected to be available in each of the seven rounds, plus some guys who make sense as priority free agents at the end of Day 3. That's not to say these are the only quarterbacks the Saints should consider. When necessary, we'll also highlight an alternative. These are just the prospects who they've already shown interest in or seem to check the boxes we know New Orleans likes.
Alternative: Shedeur Sanders, Colorado
Ward has been strengthening his case as the top quarterback in this class for a few months now, and all signs point to the Tennessee Titans staying put and drafting him at first overall. It would reportedly take a king's ransom just to get them to slide down from No. 1 to No. 3, so upping the ante in a deal with the Saints at No. 9 appears unrealistic. That doesn't mean the Saints don't have options at the top. Sanders has fans inside the Cleveland Browns' building but doesn't appear to be a lock to be picked at No. 2. Maybe the Saints could outbid other QB-needy teams like the New York teams (yes, both of them) and the Las Vegas Raiders to move to the front of the line. But it would be expensive.
Alternative: Jalen Milroe, Alabama
Dart can throw the football well -- Kellen Moore got a firsthand look at that during his pro day this Friday. But he makes some questionable decisions and doesn't appear ready to play on Sundays. Still, it would be worth getting him in the building, especially if the Saints can spend their first-round pick on a real difference-maker. Depending on who you ask, Milroe might be ranked ahead of Dart, and he does appear to be a better athlete. There's only one Taysom Hill but Moore is a creative enough play caller to where you'd think he could get a lot out of Milroe in New Orleans. Either of them could be a viable pick at No. 40, or further down in Round 2.
Alternative: Will Howard, Ohio State; Tyler Shough, Louisville
Ewers hasn't met the sky-high expectations that came with his recruiting status, but that doesn't mean he's a bad quarterback. The Saints certainly seem to like him after meeting with Ewers formally at the NFL Scouting Combine and again the night before his pro day at a less-formal group dinner. This looks like the sweet spot to get a backup QB this year. Howard, Shough, and other guys we'll get to shortly have all been projected in this range, and the Saints own a couple of third-round picks at Nos. 71 and 93. Moore was seen talking animatedly with Howard at Ohio State's pro day and the Saints quarterbacks coach Scott Tolzien was in attendance for Shough's pro day at Louisville.
Alternative: Dillon Gabriel, Oregon; Riley Leonard, Notre Dame
Saints quarterbacks coach Scott Tolzien recently put McCord through a private workout, and his stock has been rising ever since he impressed scouts at the Shrine Bowl. Before that, McCord tore it up at Syracuse with an ACC record and nation-leading 4,779 passing yards. He could be picked higher than here, but so could Gabriel. That's also true for Leonard. All it takes is one team to fall in love with a prospect. The Saints own a pair of fourth rounders at Nos. 112 and 131.
This quarterback class levels out quickly once you get past the first four rounds; Rourke and each of the guys we'll highlight for these later rounds could go as high as Round 5 or be stuck waiting for a call as an undrafted free agent. So don't get too bogged down in these round-by-round projections. We like Rourke above the rest given his pocket presence and reliable ball security. He doesn't make many mistakes and proved to be a big-time player for the Indiana Hoosiers last year.
Few coaches know Cook better than his offensive coordinator Kirby Moore -- younger brother to the Saints' head coach. So it's safe to assume the team has something of an inside track on Cook's pro prospects. How much that background really matters is anyone's guess, but our thinking here is it could be the difference in Cook being considered at No. 184 versus a round later at No. 248.
Alternative: Taylor Elgersma, Wilfrid Laurier
Mertz has been compared to Cooper Rush, the former Cowboys backup who Kellen Moore developed as an undrafted rookie for Dallas, and he could make sense at the end of the draft. The Saints sent their offensive coordinator and Moore's longtime QB coach Doug Nussmeier to watch Mertz throw at Florida's pro day this week. Mertz recovered from last year's torn ACL and would probably be a mid-round pick if he hadn't been injured. The Saints also got a look at Elgersma, the Canadian prospect, at this year's Senior Bowl and again at his pro day at Buffalo, where he was invited to participate.
Dekkers has had a rough go of it since his NCAA career ended with a gambling ban, but he's put in the work to prove his commitment to the game and learn from his mistakes (you can read more about his experience in this very thorough ESPN feature). And he has the size and arm talent that NFL scouts value. It shouldn't shock anyone if a scout or quarterback coach (like Tolzien, who worked out Dekkers personally after he was invited to South Dakota's pro day) stands on a table late in the draft to lobby for him. We're guessing Dekkers won't be drafted but again, all it takes is one team. Could he offer more to the Saints' depth chart than Jake Haener or Ben DiNucci? Maybe so.
This article originally appeared on Saints Wire: Saints 2025 NFL draft: A QB prospect for each round
Continue reading...
So who makes sense for them at different points in the draft? The Saints shouldn't put all of their eggs in one basket and plan on getting their guy in Round 1. They'll have plans to address the position throughout the draft, and even after it, if they need to. To that end, we're going to highlight prospects who are expected to be available in each of the seven rounds, plus some guys who make sense as priority free agents at the end of Day 3. That's not to say these are the only quarterbacks the Saints should consider. When necessary, we'll also highlight an alternative. These are just the prospects who they've already shown interest in or seem to check the boxes we know New Orleans likes.
Round 1: Cam Ward, Miami
Alternative: Shedeur Sanders, Colorado
Ward has been strengthening his case as the top quarterback in this class for a few months now, and all signs point to the Tennessee Titans staying put and drafting him at first overall. It would reportedly take a king's ransom just to get them to slide down from No. 1 to No. 3, so upping the ante in a deal with the Saints at No. 9 appears unrealistic. That doesn't mean the Saints don't have options at the top. Sanders has fans inside the Cleveland Browns' building but doesn't appear to be a lock to be picked at No. 2. Maybe the Saints could outbid other QB-needy teams like the New York teams (yes, both of them) and the Las Vegas Raiders to move to the front of the line. But it would be expensive.
Round 2: Jaxson Dart, Ole Miss
Alternative: Jalen Milroe, Alabama
Dart can throw the football well -- Kellen Moore got a firsthand look at that during his pro day this Friday. But he makes some questionable decisions and doesn't appear ready to play on Sundays. Still, it would be worth getting him in the building, especially if the Saints can spend their first-round pick on a real difference-maker. Depending on who you ask, Milroe might be ranked ahead of Dart, and he does appear to be a better athlete. There's only one Taysom Hill but Moore is a creative enough play caller to where you'd think he could get a lot out of Milroe in New Orleans. Either of them could be a viable pick at No. 40, or further down in Round 2.
Round 3: Quinn Ewers, Texas
Alternative: Will Howard, Ohio State; Tyler Shough, Louisville
Ewers hasn't met the sky-high expectations that came with his recruiting status, but that doesn't mean he's a bad quarterback. The Saints certainly seem to like him after meeting with Ewers formally at the NFL Scouting Combine and again the night before his pro day at a less-formal group dinner. This looks like the sweet spot to get a backup QB this year. Howard, Shough, and other guys we'll get to shortly have all been projected in this range, and the Saints own a couple of third-round picks at Nos. 71 and 93. Moore was seen talking animatedly with Howard at Ohio State's pro day and the Saints quarterbacks coach Scott Tolzien was in attendance for Shough's pro day at Louisville.
Round 4: Kyle McCord, Syracuse
Alternative: Dillon Gabriel, Oregon; Riley Leonard, Notre Dame
Saints quarterbacks coach Scott Tolzien recently put McCord through a private workout, and his stock has been rising ever since he impressed scouts at the Shrine Bowl. Before that, McCord tore it up at Syracuse with an ACC record and nation-leading 4,779 passing yards. He could be picked higher than here, but so could Gabriel. That's also true for Leonard. All it takes is one team to fall in love with a prospect. The Saints own a pair of fourth rounders at Nos. 112 and 131.
Round 5: Kurtis Rourke, Indiana
This quarterback class levels out quickly once you get past the first four rounds; Rourke and each of the guys we'll highlight for these later rounds could go as high as Round 5 or be stuck waiting for a call as an undrafted free agent. So don't get too bogged down in these round-by-round projections. We like Rourke above the rest given his pocket presence and reliable ball security. He doesn't make many mistakes and proved to be a big-time player for the Indiana Hoosiers last year.
Round 6: Brady Cook, Missouri
Few coaches know Cook better than his offensive coordinator Kirby Moore -- younger brother to the Saints' head coach. So it's safe to assume the team has something of an inside track on Cook's pro prospects. How much that background really matters is anyone's guess, but our thinking here is it could be the difference in Cook being considered at No. 184 versus a round later at No. 248.
Round 7: Graham Mertz, Florida
Alternative: Taylor Elgersma, Wilfrid Laurier
Mertz has been compared to Cooper Rush, the former Cowboys backup who Kellen Moore developed as an undrafted rookie for Dallas, and he could make sense at the end of the draft. The Saints sent their offensive coordinator and Moore's longtime QB coach Doug Nussmeier to watch Mertz throw at Florida's pro day this week. Mertz recovered from last year's torn ACL and would probably be a mid-round pick if he hadn't been injured. The Saints also got a look at Elgersma, the Canadian prospect, at this year's Senior Bowl and again at his pro day at Buffalo, where he was invited to participate.
Undrafted free agency: Hunter Dekkers, Iowa Western CC
Dekkers has had a rough go of it since his NCAA career ended with a gambling ban, but he's put in the work to prove his commitment to the game and learn from his mistakes (you can read more about his experience in this very thorough ESPN feature). And he has the size and arm talent that NFL scouts value. It shouldn't shock anyone if a scout or quarterback coach (like Tolzien, who worked out Dekkers personally after he was invited to South Dakota's pro day) stands on a table late in the draft to lobby for him. We're guessing Dekkers won't be drafted but again, all it takes is one team. Could he offer more to the Saints' depth chart than Jake Haener or Ben DiNucci? Maybe so.
This article originally appeared on Saints Wire: Saints 2025 NFL draft: A QB prospect for each round
Continue reading...
