The 2025 NFL draft is inching closer by the day, and we've got another New Orleans Saints mock draft to help the time pass a little faster. So where do we see the Saints making moves in this draft? Where could they look to trade up the board (knowing Mickey Loomis, they'll never trade down with him as general manager)? Which positions can they address now, and which problems will they have to deal with another day?
We'll answer all those questions (or at least give our best guesses) one at a time. But this latest Saints mock draft begins with a hot topic of discussion:
Round 1, Pick 9: QB Shedeur Sanders, Colorado
I traded up for Sanders in a recent NFL Wires Network mock draft, but the hesitance our other team site managers had to draft him leads me to think he'll make it to No. 9 without much fuss. And this could be a good pick for the Saints. If he develops as hoped this could be a really good pick. Derek Carr isn't long for New Orleans, even if there's not much of a way to get out of his contract this season. So we'll give Sanders a year to learn from the sidelines, or at least until Carr misses time. He's dealt with a lot of injuries the last two years and isn't getting younger. Don't be shocked if this develops into a Joe Flacco-to-Lamar Jackson situation where the veteran starter is replaced midway through the year. It's also possible another team tries to trade for Carr when it's more feasible after June 1, but I'm not holding my breath.
Remaining draft picks:
- Round 2, Pick 40
- Round 3, Pick 71
- Round 3, Pick 93
- Round 4, Pick 112
- Round 4, Pick 131
- Round 6, Pick 184
- Round 7, Pick 248
- Round 7, Pick 254
- 2026 draft: Rounds 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 (plus a projected compensatory pick in Round 4)
- 2027 draft: Rounds 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7
Round 2, Pick 40: CB Quincy Riley, Louisville
Riley shouldn't be overlooked in this cornerbacks class; the Saints certainly aren't sleeping on him after they brought him into town for an official pre-draft visit. And it's easy to see why when you look at his history. Riley was a playmaker in the Louisville secondary the last three years, breaking up 27 passes in 37 games while leaving school with 8 interceptions. He'll compete with Isaac Yiadom to start right away opposite Kool-Aid McKinstry, and that's a battle he should be expected to win after playing so well in college. There are a couple of corners in play here like Trey Amos (Ole Miss) and Shavon Revel Jr. (Eastern Carolina), but Riley is who we're highlighting this week.
Remaining draft picks:
- Round 3, Pick 71
- Round 3, Pick 93
- Round 4, Pick 112
- Round 4, Pick 131
- Round 6, Pick 184
- Round 7, Pick 248
- Round 7, Pick 254
- 2026 draft: Rounds 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 (plus a projected compensatory pick in Round 4)
- 2027 draft: Rounds 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7
Trade: Round 2, Pick 56: OL Aireontae Ersery, Minnesota
We packaged one of our fourth-round picks (No. 112) with our third rounder at No. 71 to move back into the second round, acquiring No. 56 in a trade with the Buffalo Bills. Why did we do that? To take a big step towards fixing the offensive line. Ersery may want to stay outside at tackle but his traits suggest he ...
