Mark Ingram is a franchise legend for the New Orleans Saints. He was the team’s all-time leading rusher, until his good friend Alvin Kamara passed him during the 2024 season. Still, Ingram is beloved by fans, and he was a part of some really fun times in New Orleans.
Now, he wants to see the Saints get back to those fun times. Something that would accelerate that process is New Orleans landing a star with the ninth-overall pick in the 2025 Draft. The Saints have a ton of needs, so they could go in several different directions with the selection. Ingram has one player in mind, though.
During a Wednesday appearance on the Up and Adams Show with Kay Adams, the former running back was asked what the team that drafted him should do in the first round of the upcoming draft. Ingram excitedly pitched the idea of New Orleans selecting running back Ashton Jeanty to pair with Alvin Kamara.
WHO should the Saints draft with the no. 9 overall pick??? 🤔@markingramII: "Maybe you go pair (Alvin Kamara) with ASHTON JEANTY... why not have another two-headed monster." 👀@heykayadams @AshtonJeanty2 @Saints pic.twitter.com/G4oraUQBeP
— Up & Adams (@UpAndAdamsShow) February 5, 2025
Mark Ingram says Saints should draft Ashton Jeanty
Ashton Jeanty is a phenomenal talent, and he’ll make some fan base happy in the NFL, but this move wouldn't go over well with Saints fans. It may just be the forever running back in Ingram leading him to pitch this idea, but he believes the addition of Jeanty would help Kamara out, and give New Orleans another elite rushing duo.
While that’s all true, that wouldn’t be the best selection for the team as a whole. With such a premium pick, the Saints will have the chance to select an elite lineman, on either side of the ball, or a wide receiver. Finding talent at those positions would be much more beneficial for New Orleans in the short and long term.
It would certainly be cool to see Kamara and Jeanty in the same backfield, but it’s unlikely to happen— and it shouldn’t.