When the 2025 NFL Draft began, the New Orleans Saints stood at a critical crossroads. Would they double down on offense to support a potentially shaky quarterback situation? Would they rebuild the trenches after a rough 2024 season? Or would they shock everyone with a splash pick?
Through carefully thought-out mock drafts over the past few months, we projected several paths for the Saints. Now that the draft is complete, it’s time to reflect: Where were we right? Where were we wrong? And what does the actual draft class say about the team’s future?
Our Mock Drafts vs. Reality: How They Stack Up
Mock Draft 1.0 – The Balanced Approach
- Strategy: Build across the board; OL and DL were major focuses, with a few offensive playmakers sprinkled in.
- Predicted Picks:
- Offensive Tackle early, Defensive Line help, a developmental QB late, and wide receiver depth.
Actual Result:
The Saints stuck to some of this blueprint. Offensive tackle (Kelvin Banks) went early. As expected, defensive reinforcements were a huge theme, but they attacked the quarterback earlier than predicted.
Mock Draft 2.0 – Trade-Down and Load Up
- Strategy: Saints trade down from No. 9 to 20 with the Broncos, picking up extra picks.
- Predicted Picks:
- Focused on quantity over flash, taking a CB at 20 (Jahdae Barron) and attacking WR, DL, and QB with additional Day 2 selections.
Actual Result:
- The Saints stayed put at No. 9.
- No trade-down happened.
- However, the emphasis on accumulating mid-round defensive talent mirrored real life.
- Three picks from Round 3-4 filled out the defensive core, aligning with the spirit of this mock.
Mock Draft 3.0 – YouTube Exclusive: Midseason Adjustments
- Strategy:
- After free agency moves, this mock predicted the Saints would rebuild the trenches first, then layer skill positions like WR and RB.
- Predicted Picks:
- Heavy on OL, DL, LB, and late-round offensive contributors.
Actual Result:
- This was the closest match to reality.
- The Saints focused heavily on offensive line, defensive tackle, linebacker, and secondary depth, just as this mock outlined.
Spencer Rattler as Starting QB Mock
- Strategy:
- After the shocking Derek Carr shoulder injury report, this mock imagined building around Rattler as the Saints’ emergency QB1.
- Predicted Picks:
- OL (to protect Rattler), WRs (big-bodied targets), RB (to take pressure off), and defense addressed later.
Actual Result:
- The Saints did not take a WR early like this mock projected.
- They took Tyler Shough at Pick 40, meaning they still acknowledged that their quarterback situation could be unstable, although Shough isn’t the same kind of project as Rattler.
- The offensive line help (Kelvin Banks) is aligned with the “protect the quarterback” theme.
Final Mock Draft – Based on Saints’ Historical Patterns
- Strategy:
- Study the Saints’ usual M.O.: prioritize trench players early, add athletic defenders, grab an upside QB mid-draft.
- Predicted Picks:
- Kelvin Banks (OT, Texas)
- Tyler Shough (QB, Louisville)
- Defensive prospects and some late-round offensive skill players.
Actual Result:
- Nearly nailed it.
- Kelvin Banks was the pick at 9.
- Tyler Shough was selected at 40.
- Defensive help followed across the board (DT, LB, CB, S).
Saints 2025 Draft Class
| Round | Pick | Player | Position | School |
| 1 | 9 | Kelvin Banks | OT | Texas |
| 2 | 40 | Tyler Shough | QB | Louisville |
| 3 | 71 | Vernon Broughton | DT | Texas |
| 3 | 93 | Jonas Sanker | S | Virginia |
| 4 | 112 | Danny Stutsman | LB | Oklahoma |
| 4 | 131 | Quincy Riley | CB | Louisville |
| 6 | 184 | Devin Neal | RB | Kansas |
| 7 | 248 | Moliki Matavao | TE | UCLA |
| 7 | 254 | Fadil Diggs | EDGE | Syracuse |
Reaction: What the Defensive Overhaul Means for the Saints
One look at this draft class, and it’s clear: New Orleans is building a new foundation for defense.
Edge containment was a crisis last year. Now they add Danny Stutsman (LB), Vernon Broughton (DT), and Fadil Diggs (EDGE) — physical players built to shore up perimeter and interior run defense.
The secondary reloads, too. Jonas Sanker (S) and Quincy Riley (CB) bring new blood to a defensive backfield that lost Paulson Adebo and Will Harris.
Drafting offense selectively.
Rather than force flashy picks, the Saints took Kelvin Banks to fix the OL and waited until Round 6 for a value play at RB (Devin Neal) and Round 7 for TE (Moliki Matavao).
Big Picture: A New Era Begins
- Kellen Moore will be tasked with bringing stability to the offense, but a return to defensive identity now defines the 2025 Saints.
- The Saints have quietly positioned themselves for a youth movement on defense, while still fielding a serviceable offense, assuming either Carr or Shough (or Spencer Rattler) can manage the game.
- Financial flexibility improves, too — young defenders on rookie deals are key to surviving the salary cap gymnastics ahead.
This draft didn’t produce much immediate flash, but it might have made something even more important: a new foundation for the future.
The Saints clarified that rebuilding their defensive foundation was the priority in the 2025 NFL Draft, while sprinkling in key offensive pieces like RB Devin Neal and TE Moliki Matavao. With a heavy investment in young talent on both sides of the ball, New Orleans is betting on physicality, depth, and long-term development to usher in a new era under Kellen Moore.
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