During Thursday’s edition of the “NFL Live” program, ESPN’s Adam Schefter (h/t Sports Illustrated) reported that “people around the league” do not “believe” the New Orleans Saints plan to make Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders the ninth overall pick of the 2025 NFL Draft.
ESPN draft analysts Field Yates and Matt Miller echoed Schefter’s take, even though New Orleans starter Derek Carr may never again play for the club if he misses a significant portion of the 2025 season because of a shoulder injury.
“There’s little chance Derek Carr’s shoulder injury was a surprise to the Saints, so I don’t expect it to dramatically change their stance at No. 9,” Yates wrote for an article published on Friday. “Ultimately, for New Orleans to take a quarterback that high, the decision-makers have to be in love with that prospect. I have not gotten the sense that the Saints are there with Sanders.”
Recent stories from national insiders and local beat reporters have indicated the Cleveland Browns (overall pick No. 2) and the New York Giants (No. 3) will both pass on Sanders. According to Yates, “some evaluators believe Ole Miss’ Jaxson Dart and Louisville’s Tyler Shough are legitimate targets for the Saints over the course of the draft.”
While Dart may be a project for the future, Shough may be the “most talented thrower” and most NFL-ready quarterback in this draft class. At least one current NFL head coach believes Shough “is the best quarterback in this class.”
Meanwhile, Miller added that he thinks the Saints won’t “reach” for a quarterback with the ninth pick because they “have clear deficiencies all over their roster, which is bloated with bad contracts.” However, ESPN’s Jordan Reid explained why he believes the latest Sanders-Saints chatter could be a smokescreen to keep a team from potentially leapfrogging New Orleans in the draft order.
“The Saints’ offseason moves signal they believe they’re a ‘win now’ team, including bringing back edge-rusher Chase Young on a three-year deal and adding safety Justin Reid. But in reality, they just need to rebuild,” Jordan Reid explained. “And one of the best ways to maneuver an expensive QB on the roster during a rebuild is drafting a potential long-term answer on a rookie deal. With Sanders and [2024 fifth-round draft choice Spencer Rattler], the Saints would have two inexpensive options under center while the Carr situation becomes more clear.”
As of Friday morning, DraftKings Sportsbook listed the Saints as the betting favorites at +195 odds to draft Sanders. The Pittsburgh Steelers were second on the list at +275 odds.
Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin could reportedly “advocate” for Pittsburgh to grab Sanders if the polarizing prospect falls to the 21st overall pick. That said, the Steelers may have to move up in the draft order to keep Sanders from ending up with New Orleans.
