Dream Saints Day 2 QB target throws a wrench in NFL Draft plans

The New Orleans Saints may need to find another new quarterback in 2025. While Derek Carr is under contract, and he has largely played well despite a mountain of chaos alongside him, whomever the Saints hire as their next head coach could be eyeing a fresh start.

While recent draftees Spencer Rattler and Jake Haener both have potential, it seems very unlikely that either one of them is going to emerge as a starter. If the Saints were to use their first-round pick on an impact skill position player, the idea of taking a quarterback on Day 2 of the 2025 NFL Draft could have appeal.

One player who emerged as a scouting community favorite was a Louisiana product in LSU quarterback Garrett Nussmeier, who was going in the first three rounds in essentially every mock draft up until that point. Saints fans who are fans of Nussmeier may want to bring the local kid home, but they will have to wait until next year for that.

Nussmeier will reportedly return to LSU for one more season with the Tigers, depriving the Saints of a homegrown product who could eventually take over the starting role. Drafting a quarterback in 2025 just got even less likely.

Possible Saints QB target Garrett Nussmeier no longer in 2025 NFL Draft

Nussmeier completed just under 64% of his passes, threw for 3,739 yards, and tossed 26 touchdowns against just 11 interceptions. Nussmeier will now compete with Arch Manning and others for the title of QB1 in what promises to be a deeper 2026 class.

The Saints will not be bad enough to select either Miami's Cam Ward or Colorado's Sheduer Sanders, leaving them bereft of possible draftees in 2024. Alabama's Jalen Milroe makes the most sense as a first-round pick, but he has some concerns about his overall ability as a passer.

The Saints could target a Day 2 player like Georgia's Carson Beck or Texas' Quinn Ewers, but both of them have seen their stocks fall sharply this season. New Orleans fans may not be over the moon with Carr, but this move makes it more likely that No. 4 will be under center to begin the 2025 season.

The Saints may be left in a situation where they strip their roster down to the studs, take it on the chin with Carr for a year, and then reboot in 2026. Perhaps then, they can get a more realistic shot at nabbing Nussmeier high on the order.