The New Orleans Saints are finally free to put all of their attention towards free agency and the 2025 NFL Draft, as they have hired Philadelphia Eagles offensive coordinator Kellen Moore to be their next head coach just a few days after crushing the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl 59.
Moore took this job knowing he is heading into a bit of a war zone at this moment in time. The Saints need to knock it out of the park in the 2025 NFL Draft to make up for some hellish salary cap anchors weighing them down. Even without those limitations, the roster is not good enough to make noise in the playoffs.
The Saints will need multiple years of great drafting to dig themselves out of this hole. With some extra help from the Washington Commanders after the Marshon Lattimore trade, New Orleans could get started on that journey by following this 3-round mock draft.
New Orleans Saints post-Super Bowl 3-round 2025 NFL Mock Draft
Round 1, Pick 9: Luther Burden III, WR, Missouri
The Saints can't properly run Moore's offense with Chris Olave and a bunch of flotsam in their wide receiver room. While this may seem like a slight reach for Burden due to his drops and limited route tree, the combination of the lack of depth and Tetarioa McMillan likely coming off the board before No. 9 could make this pick a reality.
Burden is not only a splendid downfield receiver, but he has the body type to be a lethal underneath target who makes plays after the catch. In Moore's offense, Burden may end up going for over 1,000 yards in his rookie season alongside Chris Olave.
Round 2, Pick 40: JT Tuimoloau, EDGE, Ohio State
Cameron Jordan isn't getting any younger, Chase Young could bolt in free agency, and Payton Turner has been a tremendous bust of a first-rounder. Those three facts working in tandem could make edge rusher a huge position of need for New Orleans. Tuimoloau could spend his rookie year learning as Jordan's understudy.
Tuimoloau is a bit of a tweener who may not put up the gaudy sack numbers many would want out of their rookies, but everything else about his player profile suggests he will plug up holes in the running game and disrupt the opposing quarterback.
Round 3, Pick 71: Tate Ratledge, IOL, Georgia
Cesar Ruiz and Erik McCoy are solid starters in the pros, but left guard was a problem last year. More than just a depth pick who can supplement both of those two veterans, Ratledge may end up seeing time at left guard if he impresses as a rookie.
Ratledge may have only played right guard in college, but his power, skill at creating holes in the running game, and heavy hands will all translate to left guard if Moore wants to move him around. In the modern NFL, especially on a team that won't be able to pay top dollar in free agency, there's no such thing as too many good offensive linemen.
Round 3, Pick 93: Ricky White III, WR, UNLV
White found his stride in the high-octane Rebels offense, amassing 2,500 yards and 19 touchdowns. Not only has White shown off the vertical speed necessary to be a quality deep threat in the pros, but he could be an ace special teamer teams will prioritize early on Day 3. The Saints must beat the rest of the league to the punch.
White needs to add some muscle before he can be viewed as a consistent threat to win against man coverage in the pros, but the speed and sharp route-running he put on display will get New Orleans interested in a vertical threat who could eventually overtake Rashid Shaheed.