A significant injury for the New Orleans Saints could turn the entire 2025 NFL draft on its ear, and in the process change how the San Francisco 49ers are able to operate in the first round.
NFL Media's Ian Rapoport on Friday reported Saints quarterback Derek Carr is dealing with a shoulder injury that puts his availability for the 2025 season in question.
Carr's potential absence for 2025 in the first season for new head coach Kellen Moore could spark the Saints to make a change in their draft plans. It sounded throughout the pre-draft process like New Orleans was content not selecting a QB this year and instead playing things out with Carr. While his play not be particularly inspiring, restructures of his contract made his dead cap hits $80,132,000 and $59,670,000 as a pre-June 1 cut the next two years.
Spencer Rattler, Jake Haener and Ben DiNucci are the other three QBs on New Orleans' roster. Haener and Rattler went a combined 0-7 in seven starts for the 5-12 Saints last season. DiNucci is 0-1 in his lone-career start for the Dallas Cowboys in the 2020 season.
The Saints passing on a quarterback means University of Colorado signal caller Shedeur Sanders might slip to No. 11 where the 49ers could try and trade back with a team looking to climb up and select the consensus No. 2 QB prospect in this year's draft. Carr's injury makes it less likely the Saints would pass on a QB in the first round.
For the 49ers a trade back seems to be the most logical move since they need to amass draft capital and there's still expected to be good value at their top positions of need if they move down the board.
Of course, there's a chance New Orleans may not like Sanders as a prospect and he could still slip outside the top 10. There's also a chance he doesn't even make it to the Saints at their slotted No. 9 selection.
Sanders' draft stock continues to be one the 49ers should be following closely, and the Saints needing a QB could certainly raise his stock quickly.
This article originally appeared on Niners Wire: Derek Carr injury could have major impact on 49ers NFL draft plans
