The New Orleans Saints, who currently have the ninth-overall pick in 2025, have a lot of needs to address this offseason. Since they have the worst cap situation in the league, the Saints probably won’t make many moves during free agency. That means the draft will be extremely important for the franchise to improve.
Since the team has so many needs, New Orleans could go in several different directions with the No. 9 pick. Some analysts believe the Saints will take an edge defender, and others argue the team should draft a wide receiver. There’s also a chance a top quarterback prospect could slip to No. 9, in which the quarterback-needy Saints should definitely pounce.
Among all the options, one path seems to be gaining steam as the draft nears. That’s the path of New Orleans drafting Tyler Warren at No. 9. Mel Kiper recently had New Orleans selecting the Penn State end in a mock draft, and Jordan Reid agreed in his latest post-combine mock draft.
Saints draft Tyler Warren in latest mock draft
For Reid, he argued that New Orleans needs more playmakers offensively, and that Warren’s versatility and skillset as a tough pass catcher makes him the perfect option for the Saints.
"The Saints need to add a prolific, go-to option for new coach Kellen Moore's offense. At 6-foot-5, 256 pounds, Warren is a rugged tight end who thrives in chaos. He has the ability to win in contested spaces against zone coverage or with defenders draped over his body in man coverage. Warren finished with a Penn State-record 104 receptions for 1,233 receiving yards and eight touchdowns. He would add another dimension to a New Orleans offense that struggled to find consistent playmakers in 2024. He has true formational versatility, with the ability to play in-line or flexed out."Jordan Reid (ESPN)
Selecting Tyler Warren would definitely generate excitement amongst Saints fans. The franchise hasn’t had an elite tight end since Jimmy Graham, and Warren has the potential to be one. Additionally, New Orleans could lose Juwan Johnson in free agency, so Warren could be his replacement.
With Warren’s ability, he could solve the same issues a first-round wideout would, while also bringing more to the table. That makes him a great selection for the Saints, so it’ll be interesting to see if he remains connected to New Orleans leading up to the draft.