The New Orleans Saints enter the 2025 NFL Draft with one of the more intriguing cases in the league. On the surface, the franchise is pushing forward with a win-now mindset—retaining Derek Carr, reworking veteran contracts, and restructuring deals to create over $28 million in cap space. However, underneath that surface is a team in transition. Several cornerstone veterans—including Alvin Kamara, Demario Davis, and Tyrann Mathieu—are entering the final year of their deals. The Saints are walking a tightrope between contending for the NFC South and preparing for a possible reset.
So, as the 2025 NFL Draft approaches, the looming question is simple: Should the Saints draft for need or take the best player available (BPA) regardless of position?
Let’s break down both sides of the argument—and what their current situation suggests they may ultimately do.
The Case for Drafting Based on Needs
Despite the Saints’ desire to remain competitive in 2025, their roster has more than a few glaring holes. Just look at these positions heading into the draft:
- Cornerback: With Marshon Lattimore traded to the Commanders after Dennis Allen’s firing and Paulson Adebo now in New York, the Saints desperately need outside help. Alontae Taylor and Kool-Aid McKinstry are the only true starters on the outside, and depth is paper-thin.
- Defensive Tackle: The run defense struggled mightily last season, and while Davon Godchaux adds a reliable rotational piece, there’s still a need for long-term difference-makers up front.
- Offensive Line: Injuries and regression across the line—particularly at right tackle and left guard—have made it one of the team’s most inconsistent units. 2022 first-round selection Trevor Penning hasn’t met expectations, and depth remains a concern.
- Wide Receiver: Chris Olave and Rashid Shaheed headline the room, but both missed significant time in 2024. With Michael Thomas officially gone and the addition of aging veteran Brandin Cooks, the team could benefit from a true WR1 or reliable third option.
- Quarterback (long-term): While Carr will start in 2025, the position has little depth or future certainty. Spencer Rattler remains a developmental option, but the Saints may want to invest in a higher-upside QB sooner rather than later.
Given these needs, it would be justifiable for the Saints to go after plug-and-play players at positions of weakness. In a relatively wide-open NFC South, nailing two or three starters could be the difference between a playoff berth and another 7–10 season.
The Case for Best Player Available
Here’s the flip side: New Orleans is teetering on the edge of a roster overhaul. With so many veterans likely coming out in 2026, the Saints could benefit from simply stacking talent wherever it falls.
General Manager Mickey Loomis has long been criticized for the team’s penchant for trading up—sacrificing future flexibility in the name of short-term roster upgrades. But in recent years, that aggressive approach hasn’t borne fruit. The Saints haven’t made a meaningful playoff run since the Drew Brees era, and the team lacks a strong young core.
The BPA approach could help reverse that trend.
Let’s say the Saints are on the clock at No. 9 (or wherever they end up), and a top-edge rusher, tight end, or even a quarterback slides unexpectedly. Even if those aren’t the Saints’ most pressing needs, bypassing elite talent for a “safe” pick at a need position could be a missed opportunity.
By most accounts, this draft class has depth at offensive tackle, cornerback, and defensive tackle. That could give the Saints flexibility to go BPA early and still land need-filling players in rounds two and three. And if they acquire extra picks via trades (as in their most recent projected deal with Denver), New Orleans would be positioned to find the balance between both philosophies.
Striking a Balance: A Potential Hybrid Approach
Ultimately, the Saints don’t need to be rigid. With 11 total picks and a roster that needs both top-end talent and reliable depth, they may choose a hybrid strategy:
- Use early picks to address critical positions (CB, DT, OL) with players who check the BPA box on their draft board.
- In later rounds, swing on high-upside players at less urgent positions, like quarterback, tight end, or safety.
- Focus on cost-controlled youth that can start contributing in 2026 and beyond, especially as the team’s current veterans age out or hit free agency.
How the Saints’ Front Office History Plays Into This
Mickey Loomis and Jeff Ireland have historically leaned into aggressiveness, but this could be the year we see them shift philosophies. The Saints haven’t traded down in the first three draft rounds this century. But with extra picks from recent trades and a clear need to overhaul the depth chart, all signs suggest this could finally be the year they change course.
That said, hiring Kellen Moore as head coach introduces an unknown element. Will Moore advocate for a quarterback of the future? Does he want a specific type of lineman to fit his system? These internal dynamics could heavily influence how the board falls for New Orleans.
Which Path Will They Choose?
The answer might not be one or the other. This Saints team is in flux, trying to thread the needle between contending now and building for the future. If they can resist the temptation to mortgage more picks and instead play the board wisely, they could walk away from the 2025 NFL Draft with a mix of impact players and long-term upside.
Draft needs vs. best player available? The right answer may be “yes.”
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