The New Orleans Saints recently made it clear they’re planning to go into another season with Derek Carr on the roster. However, the franchise knows what everyone else knows: the Saints still need a franchise quarterback of the future. That reality has been evident during the 2025 Scouting Combine, with New Orleans taking time to meet with the top quarterback prospects in the draft class.
On Wednesday, Shedeur Sanders unintentionally revealed he met with the Saints, and late Thursday evening, it was reported that New Orleans met with Cam Ward. Both Ward and Sanders are universally considered the top two quarterback prospects in this draft, and analysts don’t anticipate them making it past pick No. 7, at the latest.
Don't really get into reporting on all the meetings, but here's a notable one ...
— Nick Underhill (@nick_underhill) February 28, 2025
The Saints met with Cam Ward
The Saints are currently in possession of the ninth-overall pick, so their interest in the top quarterback prospects has everyone wondering if the team would be willing to trade up to select a first-round quarterback for the first time since 1971, when Archie Manning was drafted.
Saints meet with Cam Ward at Combine
These meetings could just be New Orleans doing their due diligence. Anything could happen on draft night, and there have already been talks about the possibility of one of these quarterbacks sliding. The last thing the Saints would want is for one of these guys to be available, and they didn’t do the necessary pre-draft work to get to know them.
However, New Orleans is in desperate need of a talented, young quarterback, and there have been talks about the Tennessee Titans, who hold the No. 1 pick, being open for a trade. If the Saints absolutely fall in love with a prospect like Ward, and they feel they need to go up to get him, they could put together a massive package to move from No. 9 to No. 1.
It’s still incredibly early in the draft process, and teams are just starting their in-depth evaluations and getting to know these prospects. Ultimately, it remains unclear what the Saints will do in the draft, but it’s obvious they have interest in the top quarterbacks.