The New Orleans Saints went back to a familiar pool to address a position of need, landing Louisville CB Quincy Riley at No. 131 overall in the 2025 NFL draft.
The pick was the Saints' second of the day, with the team also landing Oklahoma LB Danny Stutsman at No. 112. It was also the second player the Saints added out of Louisville along with QB Tyler Shough at No. 40.
Riley said the Saints were in on him early in the process and his meetings with Saints defensive pass game coordinator Terry Joseph went well. He's comfortable playing any style of coverage, but he was primarily asked to operate in zone-match concepts that rolled into zone depending on what the offense did. Those principles are also common in the defensive scheme Brandon Staley is bringing to the Saints.
"He taught me so much in just that little hour we had together," Riley said. "So I was like, OK, I can play from someone like him because he reminds me of my coach I have at Louisville now.”
Hear WWL's exclusive interview with Quincy Riley in the player above. Can't see the embed? Click here.
A native of Columbia, South Carolina, Riley started his career at Middle Tennessee State before transferring to Louisville ahead of the 2022 season. He appeared in 37 games for the Cardinals, rolling up 109 tackles, 8 interceptions and 27 passes defensed over his three seasons.
Riley is the third player drafted by the Saints who was at this year's Senior Bowl, along with Shough and safety Jonas Sanker.
