The New Orleans Saints have been well represented this spring during the pro day scene and events like the Senior Bowl, scouting out prospects and looking at who they may be willing to take with the No. 9 overall pick in April. This 2025 NFL draft is going to be a crucial one for the Saints as they look to build up a young core of talent to work with once again, this time under a new head coach.
One of the pro days they recently attended was that of the Missouri Tigers, where all 32 NFL teams were in attendance. The entire league being represented at a single school is not something you typically see, so there were some big draws at Mizzou.
When it comes down to it, there are five prospects who are expected to go in the early rounds from Missouri: Luther Burden III, Armand Membou, Theo Wease Jr, Brady Cook, and Marcus Carroll. Narrowing down the field a bit more, Membou would be a hard sell at pick No. 9 as the tackle position is not the greatest concern for the Saints right now, despite Membou having exceptional potential. They're giving Trevor Penning an opportunity to earn a long-term contract at right tackle.
Then Brady Cook, who is a productive quarterback, but late-round pickups at that position are not necessarily what the team needs at the moment given they already have multiple in the room, and would likely prefer an option near the top of their board instead if at all this year.
So, that leaves three, two wide receivers and a running back, which to an extent are both positions of need, and the Saints would be able to select these players at their pick while also feasibly considering doing so. Burden only performed in the speed drills at the combine, but did exceptionally well at them, posting a 4.41-second 40-yard dash, and a 1.54-second 10-yard split. His 2023 production is what draws everyone in though, as he would accrue 86 receptions for 1,212 receiving yards (14.1 average), nine touchdowns, and 1,313 all-purpose yards. He has experience running the ball a bit towards the sidelines, he has kick return experience, and he has shown to be a strong red-zone target in previous seasons, which fills multiple necessities for the Saints in a receiver selection.
Wease Jr. would have a better 2024 season than Burden did but did not ever hit the peak he did in 2023. He is a completely different form of receiver, relying heavily on his ability to win contested catch opportunities and push just that little bit harder to out-work the defense. His jumping capabilities are not exceptional, as was seen by his 31-inch vertical jump result, but his timing on 50/50 balls is outstanding, and he does a great job keeping his eyes on the ball and adjusting properly. With 60 receptions for 884 yards (14.7 average) and 4 touchdowns this past season, he has shown strong production, and as a 23-year-old sixth-year senior, he has tons of experience for someone who is still on the young side of things. He could be someone the Saints look into during the second day of the draft to fill a specific need at jump-ball receiver.
Then you have Carroll, who was another 2023 producer but was not as effective in 2024. His 2023 season at Georgia State was very impressive nonetheless, rushing 274 times for 1,350 yards (4.9 YPC), and 13 touchdowns, while also picking up 23 receptions for 234 yards (10.2 YPR). He has averaged more than four yards per carry each season from 2022-2024, with a collegiate career average of 4.6 as well. The fifth-year running back is not a speed back by any means, posting a 4.80-second 40-yard dash at the pro day (reported by Michael Stamps of On SI), but his north-south running style allows him to run through defenders and generate near-misses from close-range. He would be a great compliment to Alvin Kamara in the later rounds, and someone who can take the brunt of physicality at the line of scrimmage.
This article originally appeared on Saints Wire: 2025 NFL draft: Saints scout big-time prospects at Missouri pro day
