2024 was a turbulent season for the New Orleans Saints. Derek Carr got injured after a strong 2-0 start, and a subsequent seven-game losing streak took New Orleans out of the playoff race.
Kellen Moore was hired as head coach after winning Super Bowl 59, and rumors are swirling that the Saints will select a quarterback in the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft. Veteran defensive end Cameron Jordan recently went on “Good Morning Football” and shot down those rumors.
Cam Jordan Doesn’t Believe Saints Will Draft QB With No. 9 Pick
The Saints were unstoppable through the first two weeks of last season. They throttled the Carolina Panthers and Dallas Cowboys by a combined score of 91-29. Things quickly went downhill as Carr suffered a Week 5 oblique injury, and head coach Dennis Allen was fired after the seven-game losing streak.
Carr performed well when he was healthy, throwing for 2,145 yards, 15 touchdowns, and five interceptions in 10 games. He finished No. 11 in PFSN’s QB+ metric but couldn’t stay on the field. He suffered a fractured hand and concussion in Week 14 and missed the rest of the season.
The Saints restructured Carr’s contract this offseason, saving them $30 million against the cap. It also signaled their commitment to the 11-year veteran for 2025, but that shouldn’t stop them from selecting a quarterback if they like one enough.
The cupboard is pretty bare behind Carr. Spencer Rattler started six games in Carr’s absence and was the second-worst signal-caller in PFSN’s metric. The offense finished No. 22 in PFSN’s Offense+ metric, with poor non-Carr quarterback play being the main culprit.
There hasn’t been much smoke around New Orleans trading up to take Cam Ward, but Shedeur Sanders and Jaxson Dart will likely be available at No. 9. Jordan has been a Saint his entire 14-year career, and he doesn’t believe the team will draft either in the first round.
NFL.com’s Nick Shook highlighted Jordan’s “Good Morning Football” appearance in a recent article. The eight-time Pro Bowler said, “The Saints haven’t drafted a quarterback since Archie Manning in the first round. What ifs? I’m just looking at history, and what it doesn’t do is repeat on the Saints’ side for drafting first-round quarterbacks. I’ve seen it as well.
“Look at that, Shedeur Sanders. Look at that, Jaxson Dart. Look at that. We could possibly … I’ve done that for too long.”
The one-time All-Pro is going off his own experience with the Saints, but the team could be passing up a prime opportunity to find its future quarterback.
Sanders has settled into the QB2 spot in this year’s class after posting 4,134 yards and 37 touchdowns last season. People seem confident in his processing ability, but his overall athletic profile and arm strength are serious concerns.
Dart is also coming off a strong final college season. The Ole Miss product totaled 4,279 yards and 29 scores in 2024. His arm and athleticism are better than Sanders, but there are questions about his production in Lane Kiffin’s offense translating to the NFL.
Both prospects would be good first-round investments, as neither would start right away with Carr in the fold. However, Jordan doesn’t think a fresh face is needed.
“We were facing the next man up every week, including at our quarterback position, which is probably the most important position for our offense.” Jordan continued, “Quarterback dishes the ball out. We’re inserting Spencer Rattler. We’re inserting Jake Haener, back to Spencer Rattler to Derek Carr. Give me a healthy Derek Carr, and I can tell you where a healthy Saints state of mind will be.”
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have won four straight NFC South titles, but that division has historically had a lot of turnover at the top. A healthy Carr in Moore’s offense would make the Saints formidable in 2025, but drafting a quarterback in the first round could set them up for sustained success.