The New Orleans Saints did a good job of attacking free agency, re-signing guys and bringing in new players, giving the team a better roster with more depth. While the franchise still has a lot of cap space, New Orleans has turned its attention to the draft as it tries to fill the rest of its needs.
The Saints are currently equipped with nine total picks in the draft, and it would really benefit the team to hit on all of them. New Orleans needs to get younger, and find new contributors at several positions, as the team tries to return to contender status. With that in mind, here’s what the 2025 Draft could look like for New Orleans.
Saints 2025 mock draft
Round 1, Pick 9: Mykel Williams, Edge, Georgia
In the first round, New Orleans could go in several different directions, including edge rusher. That’s exactly what the team does with the ninth-overall pick, selecting Georgia edge defender Mykel Williams. The Saints recently hosted Williams and some of his Georgia teammates for a dinner, so they have a clear interest in him.
In New Orleans, Williams will join an edge group with Cam Jordan, Chase Young, and Carl Granderson, and he’ll have the chance to become a foundational piece of Brandon Staley’s defense in New Orleans.
Round 2, Pick 40: Quinn Ewers, QB, Texas
Like Williams, the Saints hosted Quinn Ewers for a dinner ahead of his pro day, showing their interest in the Texas quarterback. New Orleans has evaluated quarterbacks in every tier of this draft class, but it’s unlikely one of the top QBs will be available for them at No. 9. So unless a guy slides, the Saints could grab another position in round one, and get a QB in round two.
The quarterback of choice in this mock is Quinn Ewers, who was once expected to be a first-round pick. After a college career that included playing through an injury this past season, Ewers is now expected to go day two at the earliest. New Orleans could add him to its quarterback room as it continues its search for a franchise QB.
Round 3, Pick 71: Jaylin Noel, WR, Iowa State
The Saints brought Brandin Cooks back to New Orleans this offseason, but they must continue to address their wide receiver room. They’ll have the opportunity to do that in the third round with Jaylin Noel. Noel is a smaller receiver at 5-foot-10, 194 pounds, but he can fly, running a 4.39 40-yard dash at the combine.
At Iowa State, he caught 80 passes for 1,194 yards and eight touchdowns. With Chris Olave, Rashid Shaheed, and Brandin Cooks, Noel won’t provide much variety at the spot, but he will be another weapon for head coach Kellen Moore to work with.
Round 3, Pick 93: Cam Skattebo, RB, Arizona State
The Saints were hoping Kendre Miller would create an elite backfield duo with Alvin Kamara, and eventually be his successor. Unfortunately, Miller’s young career has been shaped by injury, and now the team is evaluating top running backs in the 2025 Class.
New Orleans has spent time with top running back Ashton Jeanty, but the team won’t be able to select him unless it does at No. 9, and that seems unlikely. However, the Saints could land Cam Skattebo in the third round, and he’ll immediately contribute and become a fan favorite with his hard running style.
Round 4, Pick 112: Cobee Bryant, CB, Kansas
New Orleans lost Paulson Adebo in free agency, and since they traded Marshon Lattimore during the season, the team was left with a thin cornerback room. The franchise did bring back Isaac Yiadom, but he’s just a depth option.
Cobee Bryant is a mid-round option with starting potential. The 6-foot, 180-pound corner will scare some teams with his thin frame, but he’ll be the first to let everyone know that doesn’t stop him from shutting down receivers and taking the ball away.
Round 4, Pick 131: Anthony Belton, OL, NC State
Offensive line remains one of the biggest needs for New Orleans, despite adding a couple of veterans to the room. Anthony Belton is a lineman that could develop into a starter for the Saints. He played tackle in college, but New Orleans would probably explore using him at guard, which is a huge need for the team.
Round 6, Pick 184: Seth McLaughlin, OL, Ohio State
The need at guard could also motivate the team to draft Seth McLaughlin. McLaughlin played center for Alabama and Ohio State, two of the best college football programs, so he understands winning cultures. In New Orleans, he could back up Erik McCoy, and compete for the left guard spot.
Round 7, Pick 248: Nazir Stackhouse, DT, Georgia
The Saints traded for veteran defensive tackle Davon Godchaux this offseason, but with the importance of the trenches, a team can never have enough linemen, on either side of the ball. Nazir Stackhouse could be an option for New Orleans as it tries to strengthen its run defense.
Round 7, Pick 254: Shilo Sanders, S, Colorado
There are some Saints fans hoping the team drafts Shedeur Sanders with the ninth-overall pick, and that could happen if the quarterback prospect makes it that far. However, New Orleans uses its final pick to select his older brother Shilo Sanders. The Saints need safety depth, and the hard-hitting Sanders could provide that.