The 2025 NFL Draft will kick off on Thursday, April 24, and analysts still don’t have a good read on how the first round will unfold. Everyone expects Cam Ward to go No. 1 overall to the Tennessee Titans, but after that, anything could happen. Shedeur Sanders could go second, or he could slide into the 20s. The Cleveland Browns and New York Giants could select a quarterback, or they could draft Travis Hunter and Abdul Carter. The first round is just shaping up to be one big mystery.
Contributing to that mystery is the New Orleans Saints, who currently have the ninth-overall pick. The Saints are a team with several needs, and since they’re set to pick in the top 10, there are several different directions they can go. For that reason, experts have no idea what New Orleans will do in the first round.
ESPN draft analyst Jordan Reid recently detailed that, calling the Saints the toughest team in round one to project. Reid acknowledged New Orleans could go quarterback, but with a new coach, and several other needs, there’s no telling what the franchise will decide.
Toughest team in Round 1 to project right now?
— Jordan Reid (@Jordan_Reid) April 7, 2025
Saints.
Plenty of QB steam, but a new coach and there’s a ton of needs on the depth chart in New Orleans.
Draft experts are having a tough time projecting the Saints’ first-round approach
New Orleans is a confusing team in general. Everyone is convinced the team needs to rebuild, but the franchise just keeps running it back. That philosophy, alone, keeps the team’s draft strategy unknown. Will the Saints try to find a player that can be an immediate contributor, in hopes they can contend in 2025, or will they make a selection with the future in mind.
If the future is in mind, quarterback will make the most sense if Shedeur Sanders slides. He’ll be a first-round quarterback with real potential to be the team’s first franchise quarterback since Drew Brees retired.
However, at No. 9, the Saints will have their choice of elite pass catchers and edge rushers, two other important needs that could help win immediately. New Orleans also needs help in the secondary, so a defensive back isn’t out of the equation either. It also wouldn’t be surprising if the team traded back and loaded up on picks. It seems like everything is on the table for the Saints, and everyone will have to wait until the draft to find out what they’ll do.