The New Orleans Saints are stuck in the NFL’s worst limbo: not good enough to compete, not necessarily bad enough to secure a top-three pick. After another lost season, New Orleans enters the 2025 NFL Draft holding the No. 9 overall pick—one of the only silver linings from a 5-12 campaign that featured too many disappointments and not nearly enough answers.
Cam Jordan will turn 36 before the season and doesn’t have much gas left in the tank. Paulson Adebo, one of the more dependable pieces in the secondary, is off to the New York Giants. Derek Carr is back, but he’s on borrowed time—and Saints fans know it. And the offensive line needs some love and attention after a tough year.
If there was ever a year for the Saints to get bold, this is it. With a roster still clinging to win-now veterans like Alvin Kamara and Jordan, it’s time to retool this thing the right way—and it starts with nailing their first-round pick.
Five 2025 NFL Draft prospects the Saints must target in the first round
(Names appear in alphabetical order by first name.)
Armand Membou, OT - Missouri
There aren’t many offensive linemen who can move like Membou at his size. The Missouri tackle is a bruising, athletic force who flashes dominant reps in both pass pro and the run game. With 29 starts under his belt and freakish traits (including a 4.91 forty at 325 pounds), Membou has the makings of a long-term bookend, even if some teams view him as a guard convert.
New Orleans needs help up front, and Membou offers both immediate value and long-term upside. He’s nasty in space, excellent at sealing the edge, and only 21 years old. With proper development, he could anchor this line for the next decade.
Jahdae Barron, CB - Texas
Versatile, physical, and flat-out smart, Barron plays like a coach’s favorite. Whether he’s locking down the slot, handling safety duties, or jumping routes from off-coverage, Barron’s instincts always seem to put him in the right spot. He’s a secure tackler with solid ball skills and a relentless motor—the kind of guy who can hold a secondary together.
The Saints need more than just bodies at corner, they need someone with leadership and plug-and-play versatility. Barron brings both. While he may not have elite long speed, he’s a tone-setter who could thrive in defensive coordinator Brandon Staley's new-look defense.
Mykel Williams, EDGE - Georgia
Williams is the kind of physical freak New Orleans used to build their defense around. He’s big (6-foot-5, 265), twitchy, and brings violent hands off the edge. While his pass-rush arsenal still needs work, there’s no denying his upside. In spurts, especially in big games, he looked like a clear top-10 pick.
Jordan isn’t getting younger. The Saints need someone who can consistently win off the edge and eventually become the guy. Williams isn’t a finished product, but his ceiling is sky-high—and New Orleans can afford to bet on traits here.
Tetairoa McMillan, WR - Arizona
A 6-foot-5 matchup nightmare with red-zone dominance and surprising fluidity, McMillan has WR1 written all over him. He may not be the fastest guy in the draft, but he wins with body control, route savvy, and elite ball skills. His college production speaks for itself, and his game is pro-ready.
The Saints need someone to take pressure off Chris Olave and Rashid Shaheed, even with newly signed Brandin Cooks in town. McMillan can win inside or outside and brings immediate size and reliability to a thin receiving corps.
Will Johnson, CB - Michigan
Johnson is built like a prototype NFL corner. He's long, smart, and tough. He’s the kind of defender who can travel with top receivers and match up across schemes. Despite missing time with a turf toe injury in 2024, he flashed elite instincts and ball skills whenever he was on the field.
If the Saints want a true CB1 for the future, Johnson is that guy. He’s not perfect—he can get grabby and needs to clean up his transitions, but his mix of size and football IQ make him one of the safest bets in the class. Plug him in opposite Kool-Aid McKinstry and let the rest of the secondary fall into place.
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