The 2025 NFL Draft is barely two weeks away, and it could be a defining class for the Kellen Moore head coaching era. Could the Saints get aggressive, or maybe even buck some long-held strategies?
If so, trades could be on the table. That's what Saints sideline reporter Jeff Nowak and WWL Sports Director Steve Geller broke down in the latest episode of the Audacy original Inside Black & Gold podcast.
Check out the full episode in the player above, or scroll below for links to the individual mocks and breakdowns.
Here's how each mock draft broke down, with all non-Saints picks made by the Pro Football Focus simulator.
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STEVE'S DRAFT (moving up)
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The trade:
- Saints send: No. 9, 2026 2nd, 4th & 6th
- Patriots send: No. 4
The draft order:
- 1. Titans: Cam Ward, QB, Miami
- 2. Browns: Shedeur Sanders, QB, Colorado
- 3. Patriots: Mason Graham, DT, Michigan
The pick:
- 4. Saints: Abdul Carter, Edge, Penn State
Why: The Saints locked in a core player in Chase Young, but I still feel like the edge rusher position is one player short -- and that player is a more rangy option to play on the weakside with the dual-threat abilities to rush the passer and drop into coverage without much dropoff. I drew the assignment of trading up, and if I'm doing that in the first round it's because I want to land the top option at their respective position. I do exactly that here with Abdul Carter, who almost certainly isn't dropping past No. 4. He was highly productive against top-end competition in the Big Ten, rolling up 24 TFLs and 12 sacks in his final college season. The foot injury doesn't scare me off, but it is something to monitor. It's also worth noting that the top two QBs went off the board at 1 and 2, so any trade that wouldn't have taken a mammoth offer was off the table. I got a top player in the draft and retained all my picks for this season -- I call that a win.
It's worth noting that with the No. 9 selection in this mock, the Patriots ended up picking Texas CB Jahdae Barron, a player that could be of high interest to the Saints if they stuck in that spot. Some other players available at No. 9 if the Saints stayed in their slot would've been Penn State TE Tyler Warren, Texas A&M edge rusher Shemar Stewart or Arizona WR Tetairoa McMillan.
Related
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JEFF'S DRAFT (moving down)
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The trade:
- Saints send: No. 9, 138 & 2026 4th
- Dolphins send: No. 13, 98 & 2026 2nd
Updated Saints picks in this mock: 13, 40, 71, 93 & 98
The draft order:
- 1. Titans: Cam Ward, QB, Miami
- 2. Browns: Travis Hunter, CB, Colorado
- 3. Giants: Shedeur Sanders, QB, Colorado
- 4. Patriots: Mason Graham, DT, Michigan
- 5. Jaguars: Ashton Jeanty, RB, Boise State
- 6. Raiders: Abdul Carter, Edge, Penn State
- 7. Jets: Will Campbell, OT, LSU
- 8. Panthers: Jahdae Barron, CB, Texas
- 9. Dolphins: Tyler Warren, TE, Penn State (via Saints)
- 10. Bears: Tetairoa McMillan, WR, Arizona
- 11. 49ers: Armand Membou, OT, Missouri
- 12. Cowboys: Mike Green, Edge, Marshall
The pick:
- 13. Saints: Donovan Ezeiruaku, Edge, Boston College
Why: I could almost hear the collective groan of "here we go again" when I clicked the button on this pick. Yes, another non-premiere name out of a school Saints fans almost certainly haven't watched a ton, but turn on Donovan Ezeiruaku's tape and you'll almost certainly fall in love with the player just like I did. It's not dissimilar to the logic behind the Abdul Carter pick in Steve's mock, and I don't mind taking a shot here because I've already moved back and added value. It might be a bit of a surprise with Shemar Stewart still on the board, but I'm tired of the projections ... I want production. That's what the guy I'll nickname "EZ" had in droves at BC. In his final collegiate season he rolled up 21 TFLs and 16.5 sacks (2nd in NCAA). Compare that to Stewart, who has all the projections and traits to be a star, but logged just 4.5 sacks in three whole seasons at A&M. EZ is another guy who I think lands on the Saints radar in Brandon Staley's scheme that wouldn't previously, measuring in at 6-2, 250 at the combine -- markers that would've had me crossing him off my list under the previous regime. The Saints have more than enough strong side edge players, they need some more athletic rushers who can play the weakside and drop into coverage or chase down plays to the backside. EZ's got the exact skillset I want. If he played in the Big 10 we'd be talking about him in the top 10.
The rest:
- 2.40: Jayden Higgins, WR, Iowa State
Why: If I'd stuck at No. 9 I'd have had a hard time not bringing in one of Tet McMillan or Tyler Warren to add an elite big dude to my offense. I still want that, and Higgins offers a 6-4 frame with surprising speed. That speed could be a problem, in my opinion, with Higgins not always using his size the way I'd like him to, but that can be coached out. I was tempted to go Jack Bech here, but if I'm looking for a big dude to vary up my WR skillsets, I want the tall guy.
- 3.71: Shemar Turner, DT, Texas A&M
Why: The other Shemar for the Aggies, this is a guy who will immediately contend for a starting role on a defensive interior that was anything but dominant last year. He seems more like a 3-4 DE prospect than a nose tackle, but those are both needs for me. There's some character questions he'll have needed to address. If teams are OK with that part of the equation, no way he gets to this pick.
- 3.93: Quinn Ewers, QB, Texas
Why: All the attention was paid to the No. 9 pick, but I still see the later picks as the most likely spot to bring in a QB. Jaxson Dart was on the board at No. 40, but I just don't see him as the prospect to develop. Instead I turn to Ewers, a guy the Saints brought in for a top 30 visit and has done nothing but win the last two years as the starter at Texas. Those seasons were split between the SEC and Big 10 and both ended in the CFP semifinals. I think there's something to be said for Ewers effectively holding off the mega-hyped Arch Manning last season, knowing that any extended struggles could mean the end in that role. Instead he threw for 3,472 yards and 31 touchdowns against just 12 interceptions. He's got good size at the position, but needs to play closer to the ceiling of his game more of the time.
- 3.98: Trevor Etienne, RB, Georgia
Why: To be entirely honest I was hopeful to come away with one of the two Ohio State kids with one of these late third rounders, but both went off the board a bit too early. Instead I turn to the younger Etienne brother and another Louisiana kid. Etienne is a solid all-around back but I'm not sure if he has the tools to develop into a bellcow. He's on the smaller end for a back (5-9, 198 pounds, but he's definitely got the skillset to be an asset on third downs early in his career. He's got low mileage and experience playing against the top competition in the SEC between Florida and Georgia. I wanted a back in this class and I got a good one.
The Saints gave up their 4th round selection in this mock, but still hold four more Day 3 picks that this mock draft doesn't cover.
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