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Five players to watch at no. 9 overall for the Saints

Apr 24, 2025 | 11:47 AM

By Ross Jackson

The New Orleans Saints have been a mystery all offseason long when it comes to their first round pick. Drafting a quarterback went from feeling like a possibility to a certainty. Then the skill position players expected to be left on the board at No. 9 overall started to look too tempting. Now, the offensive and defensive lines have again been propped up as needs to be addressed.

The Saints have a lot of directions they could go Thursday evening but some avenues feel most likely to be traveled.

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Ole Miss QB Jaxson Dart

While the quarterback chatter looks to be dying down for New Orleans, there’s a chance that it’s all smoke and mirrors in the best interest of protecting their target. In that case, Dart is the only passer that seems to align with the team’s new head coach. 

So much so that recent odds are surging, placing him as the second-most likely selection to start off the team’s draft.

Dart fits the mold of Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts, with whom head coach Kellen Moore just won a Super Bowl. While Louisville’s Tyler Shough feels like a likely option for New Orleans, he would likely be a trade-up candidate later in the first round or early in day two. If the Saints are going quarterback at No. 9, Dart seems like the most likely target.

Texas OL Kelvin Banks Jr.

Overall, the Longhorns lineman feels like an incredibly likely scenario as the Saints’ first selection. He’s an athletic and solid protector on the line that could slot inside or even start at tackle if New Orleans feels there’s change necessary there.

Banks may not seem like the sexiest pick to the fanbase, but he would be a selection that aligns with the philosophy of Moore and general manager Mickey Loomis, building from the inside out.

“Kellen’s philosophy is, you build inside out,” Loomis said during his pre-draft press conference on Wednesday.. “Offensive, defensive line, you’ve got to put resources in those areas. That allows you to be a good football team. So, I think we’re aligned in that regard.”

Oregon OL Josh Conerly Jr.

Similar to Banks, Conerly would be another example of building from the inside out. While he isn’t highly ranked on many media big boards, those boards very rarely match the ones inside NFL war rooms. Conerly, like Banks, is likely to be drafted much higher than the public expects.

Conerly is a tackle with 28 consecutive games started for the Ducks. He’s been in a multiple run scheme, which matches what Moore is expected to implement in New Orleans and has only improved throughout his college career, despite not moving to offensive line until his high school days.

Conerly would be a shock to many, but is another very likely name to keep an eye on early in round one. Not just for the Saints, for that matter.

Penn State TE Tyler Warren

If there’s one skill position player that seems likely to make the Saints turn away from the trenches or a quarterback that they’re in love with, it’s Warren. He can do everything you need on offense and would give Moore yet another athletic tight end, the type with which he has found success throughout his career.

Warren would likely be one of the more exciting selections for the fanbase. But needs in the trenches may make the excitement less of a deciding factor for this area of the draft. Warren has a good chance to go off the board before the Saints pick, (the New York Jets at No. 7 overall seem like a possibility) but if New Orleans is looking for an immediate impact player that can help to provide a threat on offense, Warren is the guy.

Georgia DE Mykel Williams

Not as raw and developmental as Texas A&M pass rusher Shemar Stewart, Williams would still be a bit of a project at this spot. He was also dealing with an ankle injury that may have impacted his performance during a recent private workout. Injuries and modest production would make Williams a pick that fans would likely find a mere semblance of past failed draft investments at the position. But perhaps with a new defensive system, success could be found.

Williams is the betting favorite for the No. 9 overall selection to New Orleans. He has a similar build and mold to Tennessee pass rusher James Pearce Jr., but character concerns look set to push the Vols defender down boards, making Williams a more desirable dice roll.

It is worth noting that Loomis has made it clear that the team is looking to invest in more of immediate impact than development. Which makes sense for a team in the part of the NFL lifecycle the Saints are currently navigating.

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