By Ross Jackson
In three of the last four NFL draft classes, the New Orleans Saints have done something that they previously hadn’t since 2015: drafted a quarterback.
Yes, in 2020 the team drafted Penn State passer Tommy Stevens. However, Stevens was not chosen as a signal-caller; the intent was to transition him to tight end.
Quarterbacks Ian Book, Jake Haener, and Spencer Rattler have all been selected by New Orleans since 2021. All three started at least one game for the team and all three were showcased in Mobile, Ala. at the Reese’s Senior Bowl.
The 76th annual collegiate showcase kicks off Tuesday morning with practices, offering several quarterbacks the opportunity to capture the Saints’ attention, much like their predecessors in recent years.
The Senior Bowl class of quarterbacks include the following players:
Jaxson Dart, Ole Miss
Seth Hehigan, Memphis
Jalen Milroe, Alabama
Riley Leonard, Notre Dame
Taylor Elgersma, Laurier
Dillon Gabriel, Oregon
Tyler Shough, Louisville
Of the 40 participants we listed as must-watch candidates for the Saints, three were quarterbacks.
Dart, Milroe, and Elgersma should provide some particular intrigue for New Orleans. The Saints likely have their 2025 quarterback room built out with starter Derek Carr and young options Rattler and Haener. Depending upon their upcoming head coach hire, the position could see a shake up. Should another drafted quarterback enter the conversation, they could come from the Senior Bowl.
New Orleans will get a closer look at Elgersma than Milroe and Dart throughout the week, as Saints offensive assistant Jordan Traylor will be coaching the National Team quarterbacks. That look would get much closer should National Team head coach Mike Kafka wind up as the Saints’ selection for head coach—the position for which he is a candidate.
Dart is expected to be a riser in this year’s draft class much like Oregon’s Bo Nix was last season. The Ole Miss passer’s 2024 season was outstanding, passing for 4,279 yards, 29 passing touchdowns, and just six interceptions. He also added 495 rushing yards and a trio of rushing touchdowns.
Alabama’s Milroe will be one of the most dynamic athletes on the Senior Bowl field this week. His passing statistics don’t often jump out for evaluators. He finished 2024 with just 2,844 passing yards, 16 passing touchdowns, and 11 interceptions. He completed 64.3% of his passes last year. His game-breaking ability will come as a rusher. With the ball in his hands, he is an absolute threat.
Milroe averaged 4.3 rushing yards per attempt, totalling 726 rushing yards and a whopping 20 rushing touchdowns in 2024. Many will be talking about changing positions when it comes to the Crimson Tide signal caller, but if some team gets a hold of him and develops him further as a passer, things could get interesting quickly for Milroe. Otherwise, should he be willing to change positions, a do-it-all Taysom Hill-type role could be in his future.
Elgersma is already one of the most interesting players in this year’s Senior Bowl class. He is the first participant from a Canadian university in Mobile. The 6-foot-6, 212 pound passer threw for 2,643 passing yards, 20 passing touchdowns, and nine interceptions. Keep in mind that the team’s season was only eight games as opposed to 12. That makes his per-game passing yards average over 330.
His Golden Hawks finished undefeated on the season and played for the Yates Cup, a conference championship. He was named the MVP of the Yates Cup, Ontario University Athletics MVP, and was named U Sports Football’s most outstanding player.
Traylor will get a lot of hands-on experience with Elgersma, from which the Saints could benefit.
Quarterbacks like Oregon’s Gabriel and Notre Dame’s Leonard are looking to raise their stock, as well. New Orleans may not be in range to land a top quarterback in this year’s class, and this year’s crop of passers is certainly thin. However, should one of these players stand out enough to grab their attention, recent history shows that New Orleans won’t hesitate to roll the dice if the value is right on draft day.
