The youngest head coach in the NFL is getting set for his first season, which could include a shiny new addition. With the New Orleans Saints picking ninth overall in the 2025 NFL Draft, they’ll have to wait and see how the top of the board shakes out.
New Orleans needs at cornerback, offensive line, wide receiver, quarterback, edge rusher, and more, so there’s plenty of help available in this year’s top 10. In the latest NFL Mock Draft from ESPN draft analyst Mel Kiper Jr., the Saints are projected to go after a potential franchise-changing option.
Could the Saints Land QB of the Future? All Eyes on Potential Shedeur Sanders Slide
It’s tough to predict who’ll be available at No. 9, especially with so many teams ahead of New Orleans needing similar help. In Kiper’s latest two-round NFL mock draft, he sees the Saints landing a major piece.
“If Sanders doesn’t go to the Giants, there aren’t many clear landing spots for him in the top 10 … and he could slide. I could see a team trading up for him — maybe even the Saints, who have nine picks — but most of these rosters are already set at quarterback. This is a great outcome for New Orleans, though. I like this match a lot.
Sanders is my top-ranked quarterback, and his accuracy jumps off the tape. He completed 74% of his throws last season despite being under constant pressure. Playing in the NFC South with good weather and a few indoor stadiums would ease any arm strength concerns. And he wouldn’t be forced to play right away. Derek Carr, 34, will be with the Saints for at least another season; Sanders could learn behind him before taking over.”
Sanders getting the chance to learn behind Carr instead of being thrown into a starting role right away might be the best thing for him. On top of that, he’d get to work with new head coach Kellen Moore — who played quarterback himself and started three games in the NFL.
The one snag? The Giants have long been linked to Sanders, and they pick third. But their latest moves at quarterback hint they might be looking elsewhere.
How Far Could Sanders Fall in 2025 NFL Draft?
A recent seven-round 2025 NFL Mock Draft by PFSN’s Reese Decker suggests if Sanders doesn’t go in the top 10, he might slide all the way out of the first round. In that scenario, Decker has him going 33rd to the Cleveland Browns.
As for the Saints, Decker believes edge rusher is a bigger immediate need. That’s why he projects them to take Georgia’s Mykel Williams at No. 9. Decker explains the move to go defense.
“The New Orleans Saints are desperate for pass rush production, and Mykel Williams has a unique blend of speed, finesse, and brute force,” Decker wrote. “Williams is an explosive pass rusher with all the traits needed to become one of the league’s elite. His combination of speed and power is impressive, but it’s his ability to bend, collapse his frame, and establish leverage that sets him apart.”
So, while speculation around Sanders and the Saints continues, nothing is locked in. For all they know, Sanders could be off the board before their turn comes. Either way, with so many holes on the roster, New Orleans has to nail its first-round pick.
New Saints head coach Klint Kubiak? His name is Kellen Moore.