The New Orleans Saints have been widely regarded as a team who could select a quarterback high in the 2025 NFL Draft, as the combination of Derek Carr's age and Kellen Moore's desire to find a young player he can mold could lead them down the QB road.
Despite some smoke connecting them to top prospect Sheduer Sanders, Moore and GM Mickey Loomis may end up waiting until the second or third round to take a quarterback and beefing up a threadbare roster. Even in a weaker QB class, the Day 2 guys have some standouts.
While the consensus top prospects (if Sanders and projected No. 1 pick Cam Ward are taken out of the equation) are Ole Miss' Jaxson Dart and Alabama's Jalen Milroe, ESPN's Field Yates has them going in a different direction.
Yates believes the Saints will trade up to the No. 61 overall pick, taking Ohio State quarterback Will Howard at a spot far above where he is usually projected to be selected. The Saints took Texas A&M pass rusher Shemar Stewart and Iowa State wide receiver Jayden Higgins with the No. 9 and No. 40 picks in this NFL mock draft.
Saints projected to trade up for Ohio State QB Will Howard in 2025 NFL Draft
Howard's biggest check against him as a prospect is the fact that none of the most important physical traits for a quarterback are in that elite tier. Howard is a bit of a jack of all trades who is average to above-average at just about every aspect of playing the position.
Howard, who spent most of his college career at Kansas State before winning a title with the Buckeyes, has shown solid mobility for a 6-4, 230-pound quarterback. His arm strength gets the ball where it needs to go, and he is one of the better deep ball throwers in this class.
No matter who the Saints pick in the draft, the expectation is that they will sit on the sideline while Carr takes leadership of this team in Moore's debut season with the team. Howard needs one year of marinating on the bench before he can assume a starting role.
The Saints picking Howard that high after giving up draft capital may not be the most prudent move in the world, but if they strongly believe he can be a quality quarterback for them, no pick may be too high to pick him.