(Photo by Christian Verde/New Orleans Saints)
By Ross Jackson
After the New Orleans Saints assembled an eclectic 2025 NFL Draft class, they addressed just about every position on the field. The only two positions that weren’t directly impacted were interior offensive line and wide receiver.
While Kelvin Banks Jr.’s arrival could eventually shake up the interior offensive line, the Saints’ miss at wide receiver stands out as a real concern.
But it wasn’t without effort.
“I think there was a couple times when we thought we were going to get a receiver at a particular slot,” general manager Mickey Loomis said in his post-draft press conference. “And they got taken a few picks above us. So, it just didn’t work out.”
Which receivers went off the board before Saints selections?
Fifteen wide receivers were drafted within 10 picks before the Saints’ selection, but two stand out as the likely targets Loomis referenced.
- Tetairoa McMillan, Arizona, Carolina Panthers (No. 8 overall)
- Jayden Higgins, Iowa State, Houston Texans (No. 34 overall)
- Luther Burden III, Missouri, Chicago Bears (No. 39 overall)
- Kyle Williams, Washington State, New England Patriots (No. 69 overall)
- Isaac TeSlaa, Arkansas, Detroit Lions (No. 70 overall)
- Savion Williams, TCU, Green Bay Packers (No. 87 overall)
- Chimere Dike, Florida, Tennessee Titans (No. 103 overall)
- Dont’e Thornton Jr., Tennessee, Las Vegas Raiders (No. 108 overall)
- Arian Smith, Georgia, New York Jets (No. 110 overall)
- Jaylin Lane, Virginia Tech, Washington Commanders (No. 129 overall)
- Ricky White II (UNLV) Seattle Seahawks (No. 238 overall)
- Kaden Prather, Maryland, Buffalo Bills (No. 240 overall)
- Konata Mumpfield, Pittsburgh, Los Angeles Rams (No. 242 overall)
- Dominic Lovett, Georgia, Detroit Lions (No. 244 overall)
- Junior Bergen, Montana, San Francisco 49ers (No. 252 overall)
Saints were connected with several of these prospects
The Saints had pre-draft contact with a number of these wide receivers. Beyond the typical Senior Bowl and NFL Scouting Combine meetings, a few spent time with New Orleans via workouts, Pro Day meetings, and even top-30 visits.
Of those reported (which is not representative of the whole):
- Tetairoa McMillan, Arizona (Top-30 Visit)
- Isaac TeSlaa, Arkansas (Top-30 Visit)
- Savion Williams, TCU (Top-30 Visit)
- Junior Bergen, Montana (Top-30 Visit)
- Arian Smith, Georgia (Dinner and Pro Day)
Who were the two most likely targets?
- Isaac TeSlaa, Arkansas (Top-30 Visit)
- Savion Williams, TCU (Top-30 Visit)
Judging by what the Saints needed most, a big-bodied wide receiver, only three of these receivers, McMillan, TeSlaa, and Williams, fit the mold. New Orleans had some noticeable trends in their draft class.
Those trends included: team captain experience, number of games played, and clean medical history. Applying those criteria to the five players with pre-draft exposure to the Saints, TeSlaa and Williams may have been the top options that New Orlenas missed out on among the group of 15 wideouts taken before them.
What do the Saints do now?
If the team still wants to land a big-bodied wideout, they have avenues. While undrafted free agency hasn’t yet yielded such a prototype one day after the selection process, there are still options in free agency, some of which already have experience with head coach Kellen Moore.
Last year’s fifth-round pick Bub Means could rise to the occasion, as well. With his 6-foot-1 and 212 lbs range, he may not fit the role of a former wideout like Michael Thomas, but he could potentially still contribute as a possession receiver with size that has the speed to stretch the field. This change in offensive scheme and clean slate could be a major opportunity for the second-year receiver.
