The New Orleans Saints may not be in a very enviable position due to Derek Carr's injury and the perpetual lack of salary cap space that Mickey Loomis has created, but that will not be enough of a reason to excuse Kellen Moore from building a team that can win in 2025 and beyond.
New Orleans could easily dip into the quarterback pool in order to get Moore someone he can build around, but they also need to find a way to improve their lackluster cornerback room and surround whoever is under center with more quality pass-catchers outside of Chris Olave.
The Saints might be in a precarious financial spot, but Loomis and this organization can still compete in what is a wide-open NFC South. If they follow the plan in this 7-round NFL mock draft, the Saints could stay competitive despite the obstacles preventing them from becoming contenders.
New Orleans Saints 7-round NFL Mock Draft
Round 1, Pick 9: Shedeur Sanders, QB, Colorado
Even before the Carr injury, Sanders could have been a solid fit in New Orleans. Following it, Sanders could seize control of the starting role in a very quarterback-friendly offense and never let go. Moore will have a ton of fun designing plays for someone with his football IQ and accuracy.
Sanders will need to overcome his average arm strength and poor play when he is forced to leave the pocket, but his talent as a pocket passer is undeniable. Playing indoors in a quarterback-friendly offense would be ideal for Shedeur, who may have the highest floor of any quarterback prospect in this class.
Round 2, Pick 40: Maxwell Hairston, CB, Kentucky
Hairston is a slight cornerback who tips the scales at a meager 183 pounds, but he excels at just about every other aspect of playing the nickel cornerback spot. With elite speed and ball skills that got better every year, Hairston should be able to make a smooth transition to the pros.
Paulson Adebo was the one high-end cornerback the Saints had on their roster, and he departed for the Giants in free agency. Hairston will get immediate playing time, and he has the potential to instantly emerge as one of the best nickel corners in the NFC in Brandon Staley's defense.
Round 3, Pick 71: Mason Taylor, TE, LSU
While the local product isn't the best blocker in the world, Taylor has strong hands and exceptionally smooth route-running ability. The son of Hall of Famer Jason Taylor, Mason should be a great fit in a Moore offense that has had great results in the past with names like Dalton Schultz and Dallas Goedert.
Round 3, Pick 93: Xavier Restrepo, WR, Miami
Restrepo has taken a bit of a tumble down draft boards after some ghastly athletic timing scores heightened concerns about the sixth-year college player, but that is not indicative of his tape. Restrepo will be a nice underneath target for Sanders and a solid complement to Olave.
Round 4, Pick 112: Hollin Pierce, OT, Rutgers
Pierce is a mammoth tackle who stands 6-8 and 340 pounds, and he uses every bit of his physical strength to overwhelm defensive linemen as a run blocker. It is not an exaggeration to say that if Pierce is properly developed, his size could make him a possible Pro Bowl player.
Round 4, Pick 131: Sai'vion Jones, EDGE, LSU
Jones is a tweener edge who clocks in at around 280 pounds, and his pass rush plan isn't very well developed. Jones needs time, but the athletic potential he has at his feet is so immense that the Saints could land a major steal if they can keep Jones in Louisiana.
Round 6, Pick 184: Andrew Armstrong, WR, Arkansas
Armstrong had just one touchdown last season, but he topped 1,000 yards thanks to a 6-4 frame and very wide catch radius. Even with a lack of great speed, Armstrong's production and measurables could lead to him playing a role in the New Orleans offense as a rookie.
Round 7, Pick 248: John Williams, OT/IOL, Cincinnati
Williams is an unusual prospect, as some may call him too unathletic to play tackle in the pros and not strong enough to last at guard. However, his collegiate tape is very strong, and his mean mindset on the field could make him some versatile depth behind the starters.
Round 7, Pick 254: Zeek Biggers, DT, Georgia Tech
At 6-6 and 322 pounds with some testing numbers that are much more enticing than most defensive tackles in this range, Biggers is a player the Saints can stash on the back end of the roster and continue to work with to get the most out of him.