The New Orleans Saints had a 2024 NFL season to forget. They finished last in the NFC South with a disappointing 5-12 record, failing to qualify for the playoffs for the fourth straight year.
While New Orleans’ biggest need right now isn’t a quarterback, with Derek Carr having an impressive year outside of injury, Saints legend Drew Brees sees them pouncing upon top QB prospect Sheduer Sanders if he slips to them at No. 9 overall in the 2025 NFL Draft.
Drees Brees Won’t Be Surprised If Shedeur Sanders Slips to Saints at Pick 9
Sanders is among the most hyped-up players in this draft class and is projected to be among the top picks this year. However, as has been the norm in the draft, and as Brees said, someone inevitably drops. If this year that happens to be Sanders, the Saints might sideline their requirements and take the chance on Deion Sanders’ son.
“You’re always thinking wherever you’re drafting, No. 1, what are the needs? But No. 2, who is the best player available? Inevitably, you see in every draft where all of a sudden a guy drops further than you expect,” Brees told RG when asked about the possibility of Sanders dropping lower than expected.
“He gets to you, and it’s like, ‘Okay, we had our eye on somebody because that was maybe a need, but all of a sudden, this great player is available, especially at the quarterback position.’ I think everyone recognizes you have to have a top-flight quarterback in order to have a chance to really win and make a run at it.”
The Saints do already have a great quarterback. With Carr under center, New Orleans went 5-5. In games he missed, they were 0-7. Nevertheless, Brees believes Sanders could be a better option.
“When you have your opportunity to get who you might perceive as your guy, then you got to take him, right? Sean Payton loved Patrick Mahomes back in 2017 when he was coming out,” said Brees. “I think had Mahomes dropped to No. 11, I think Sean Payton would have taken him.
“The Chiefs jumped, traded with Buffalo, of all teams, and jumped to No. 10 and drafted him. Then we took Marshon Lattimore with pick No. 11. Pretty good, but nonetheless, when a QB is available, and you think he could be your guy — I don’t know the way the Saints feel about Shedeur, I think he’s a heck of a football player.
“With having Deion as his coach and a mentor father his whole career, you feel like he’s kind of equipped, poised, ready to take on that responsibility to step in and be an immediate impact player. These rookie quarterbacks are coming in more and more equipped based on their experiences in college and how they’ve been developed. We’ll see.”
However, Sanders is projected to be snapped up early at No. 2 by the Cleveland Browns according to PFSN’s latest mock draft, with the Saints selecting Arizona Wildcats WR Tetairoa McMillan at No. 9.
While McMillan better suits the Saints’ requirements, with their wide receiver position plagued by injuries last year, Sanders could make an instant impact and turn New Orleans into playoff contenders next year.