When it comes to the 2025 NFL Draft and what the New Orleans Saints will do with the ninth overall pick, it's anyone's guess. The Saints have holes pretty much everywhere on the roster so they might fall into the category of drafting the best player available when they're on the clock with the ninth pick.
That being said, in two of the three mock drafts that I'll be discussing in this write-up, the Saints select an EDGE rusher with pick number nine. This probably wouldn't upset fans even if the Saints weren't the worst team in the league at getting to the quarterback (they were just below the middle of the pack with 39 sacks, tied with the Chiefs and Bills).
Let's take a look at the players being mocked to the Saints in our latest mock draft roundup.
Saints linked to pass-rushing help in mock draft roundup
Bleacher Nation: Shemar Stewart, EDGE (Texas A&M)
Sam Russell of Bleacher Nation had New Orleans selecting Shemar Stewart ninth overall. "The Saints need more talent off the edge to put pressure on the quarterback. Shemar Stewart is huge (6’6″, 285) and versatile which will be a big help for the Saints," Russell wrote.
Stewart has never had more than 1.5 sacks in any of his three seasons with the Aggies. Sure, there's a lot more for EDGE rushers to do than simply sack the quarterback but it's a big part of the position.
Grade: B-
NFL.com: Mike Green, EDGE (Marshall)
Daniel Jeremiah of NFL.com also went in the direction of NOLA adding some help to their pass rush and had them landing Mike Green out of Marshall. This would likely be a very popular move amongst Who Dat Nation, as Green had a whopping 17.0 sacks for the Thundering Herd during the 2024 season. While, yes, Marshall is a non-Power 4 school, 17 sacks is impressive no matter how you swing it.
"The Saints ranked third to last in yards allowed last season, so they have to improve on that side of the ball. New head coach Kellen Moore saw the impact a dominant pass rush can have on a squad during his time with the Eagles. New Orleans selects Green, a very polished and productive rusher," Jeremiah wrote.
Grade: A-
Sports Illustrated: Tetairoa McMillan, WR (Arizona)
Daniel Flick of Sports Illustrated went against the grain here and had the Saints going with a wide receiver, which is another strong need for the Saints. They have Chris Olave under contract for at least one more year (two if they pick up his fifth-year option) and Rashid Shaheed has been a nice surprise but injuries have held the position back.
"The 6' 5", 212-pound McMillan has two years of elite production, and his size and ball skills pair well with the savvy, nuanced Olave," Flick wrote.
Tetairoa McMillan would be a wonderful addition to the position and would instantly become Derek Carr's (or whoever the quarterback of the Saints is in 2025) favorite target. McMillan tallied over 1,300 receiving yards and found the end zone eight times during the 2024 season. In 2023, he had over 1,400 yards and scored 10 touchdowns, proving that he's good for well over 1,000 yards if targeted.
Grade: A