By Ross Jackson
Day one of the 2025 NFL Draft included some twists, turns, and trades. Despite all of the pre-draft noise, the New Orleans Saints stuck mostly to their trends.
The Saints have now used 11 of their last 13 first round picks to invest in their trenches. It is a streak that remained consistent this year with the selection of Texas offensive lineman Kelvin Banks Jr. at No. 9 overall.
New Orleans also extended a different streak on Thursday, continuing their first-round quarterback drought for now 55 years. The team has not selected a quarterback in the opening round of the NFL Draft since Archie Manning in 1971.
In spite of all of the oddsmakers and momentum toward ending that longest-active run, New Orleans defied the prevailing belief, passing on passer at No. 9 overall. The team also did not find a trade up that could have netted them their next signal caller.
It may not have been for lack of effort, however. ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported during the draft broadcast that the Tennessee Titans turned down suitors for the first overall selection. The Saints were reportedly among them.
“The Cleveland Browns, the New York Giants, the New Orleans Saints all inquired about the availability of Cam Ward. All were denied”
— @AdamSchefter on the #1 Pick pic.twitter.com/SL047dktV5
— Saints Film Room (@SaintsFilmRoom) April 25, 2025
Head coach Kellen Moore also acknowledged that trade talks took place throughout the first night in his post-draft media availability. He confirmed conversations around both trading into the first round for a second selection and trading back from their initial selection. However, neither pursuit came to fruition.
“Obviously there’s always discussions as you go through this process,” Moore said. “Those discussions certainly happen, but we felt good with where we’re at.”
There are mixed feelings about the team not selecting a quarterback, though only two were selected Thursday night and many still remain on the board before the second round begins. Some believed even before starting quarterback Derek Carr’s shoulder issue became known that the team should look to invest in their future at the position. Especially with a newly appointed, offensively-minded head coach in place.
That supposition only grew after news broke that Carr could potentially be sidelined for 2025.
New Orleans could invest in the quarterback room’s next addition on Friday. With the No. 40, No. 71 and No. 93 selections in hand, the team has a ton of flexibility.
The remaining quarterbacks include some top options:
- Colorado QB Shedeur Sanders
- Louisville QB Tyler Shough
- Alabama QB Jalen Milroe
- Syracuse QB Kyle McCord
- Ohio State QB Will Howard
Any quarterback taken in the second round would be the first in franchise history selected in that round. Any passer taken in the third would be only the second all-time third-round quarterback, the first since Garrett Grayson in 2015.
