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Five second round candidates for Saints (and five more wild cards)

Apr 9, 2025 | 5:16 PM

By Ross Jackson

While most NFL Draft coverage centers on the first round, teams like the New Orleans Saints could find starter-level talent well into Day 3 — and with multiple top-150 picks, including No. 40 overall, they’re in position to land an immediate contributor.

Here are some of the options that New Orleans could potentially secure in the second round of the 2025 NFL Draft and why each could be a good fit.

We broke down first round prospects last week.

Ole Miss CB Trey Amos

After losing both starting cornerbacks from 2024 since last year’s trade deadline, the Saints could land a new outside, lockdown coverage player at No. 40 overall in Amos. The Ole Miss cornerback is reminiscent of Saints former cornerback Paulson Adebo. He’s strong and very physical in press coverage and has the athleticism to keep pace with NFL speed.

At 6-foot and 195 pounds with 4.43 speed and experience against SEC competition, Amos will be near the top of a strong cornerback class that could go off the board early in this year’s draft.

Iowa State WR Jayden Higgins

We’ve been very focused on Higgins as of late, highlighting his unique combination of talents and his potential fit for the Saints. At 6-foot-4 and over 200 pounds, he has great speed and athleticism along with a massive catch radius. 

Higgins could be the perfect complement for the Saints’ trio of speedy wide receivers, while also being able to present a threat at all three levels himself. 

Ohio State RB TreVeyon Henderson

The Ohio State running back is the perfect blend of elite speed, vision, and playmaking ability. He is outstanding with the ball in his hands and has the acceleration and long speed to leave defenders in the dust. He is also a willing blocker that can find himself on the field for all three downs without a ton of wear and tear during his time in college (only 590 career carries). 

New Orleans may not be desperate for a top-tier running back with Alvin Kamara still producing at a high level in Year 8, but planning for the future — and potential injuries — makes a prospect like Henderson a smart investment.

Ole Miss EDGE Princely Umanmielen

After re-signing defensive end Chase Young to a three-year deal this offseason, New Orleans likely doesn’t feel the pressure to land another edge rusher in the first round. But drafting one makes a lot of sense from a preparedness standpoint. A player like Umanmielen has the versatility and athleticism to attack from multiple areas of the pass rush and he holds firm in the run game, as well.

Even if he were to simply hold the role of a pass rush specialist for his first season, he has long-term value at the position that’s sure to undergo changes in the coming years during his rookie contract. Umanmielene also has a penchant for showing up in big moments and against top-flight competition.

Notre Dame S Xavier Watts

The second round might be a bit early for a safety—especially if the Saints are eyeing long-term depth rather than instant impact—but Watts’ talent could be hard to pass on, depending on how the board falls.

Watts is a rare safety that has elite impact on the football while being very valuable and effective in run support near the line of scrimmage. If the Saints want to invest in their future at the position early, Watts would be a home run, even though his value seems to be in question.

Lagniappe

  • Ohio State OL Donovan Jackson
  • Tennessee RB Dylan Sampson
  • East Carolina CB Shavon Revel
  • South Carolina DT T.J. Sanders
  • UCLA LB Carson Schwesinger

Check out more of our Saints coverage.