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NFL Mock Draft Monday: Picking a First-Rounder For the New Orleans Saints

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By John Hendrix | Last updated Feb 3, 2025 8:45 AM ET

The New Orleans Saints have their work cut out for them when they eventually get their new head coach.

Having a Super Bowl in your own backyard after a poor showing on the season is a feeling, to say the least. However, the Saints have to attempt to figure out how they'll get out of their losing ways, and the NFL Draft looks to provide some help.

New Orleans can have as many as six picks within the Top 150 at the end of April, and they should use them all to help address key needs and roster deficiencies. Mock Drafts are big this time of year, and we look at what the Saints could do with their 9th pick and see how the board plays out.

Using Pro Football Network's Mock Draft Simulator, here's my latest pick for the Saints. I made two other very early selections previously, so we're going in quite the different direction today.

End of December Mock: Mykel Williams, EDGE, Georgia

Hilariously Way-Too-Early Mock (Jan. 6): Mason Graham, DT, Michigan

The Previous Picks

Titans - Cam Ward, QB, Miami
Browns - Travis Hunter, CB, Colorado
Giants - Shedeur Sanders, QB, Colorado
Patriots - Tetairoa McMillan, WR, Arizona
Jaguars - Abdul Carter, EDGE, Penn State
Raiders - Will Johnson, CB, Michigan
Jets - Mason Graham, DT, Michigan
Panthers - Will Campbell, OT, LSU

The Big Board (Top 5 Ranked Prospects)

Ashton Jeanty, RB, Boise State
Malaki Starks, S, Georgia
James Pearce Jr., EDGE, Tennessee
Luther Burden III, WR, Mizzou
Mike Green, EDGE, Marshall

I do like how the board is for New Orleans despite some real big talent giong elsewhere. Tetairoa McMillan would be a no-brainer pick if he's there, as well as Adbul Carter. I would like to see what the Saints do in free agency before looking at Will Johnson, and I would feel great about adding Mason Graham to the interior.

Trade Offers (3)

Tampa Bay offers 1st Round (19th), 2nd Round (53rd) and 2026 2nd Round for 1st Round (9th) and 4th Round (130th) picks.

Green Bay offers 1st Round (23rd), 2nd Round (54th) and 2026 2nd Round for 1st Round (9th) pick.

Seattle offers 1st Round (18th) and 2nd Round (50th) for 1st Round (9th) pick.

I'm not a fan of trading down to acquire more picks. If the player is there you want at 9th and you have an opportunity to get a real game changer, then why wait?

The Saints Select: Ashton Jeanty, RB, Boise State

Whether or not it's ultimately Kellen Moore who is the new head coach of the Saints, the team's first pick will be a huge one. Moore going to his alma mater and getting college's best running back prospect wouldn't be a bad way to kick things off.

It's hardly a secret, but Saquon Barkley was the focal point for the Eagles offense. Under Moore, with help from Jalen Hurts and the Philly offensive line, they turned in the NFL's 2nd overall rushing attack with 179.3 rushing yards/game. Baltimore was on top at 187.6 rushing yards/game and Washington was behind them with 154.1 yards/game.

Naturally, all three of the top teams have extremely talented dual-threat quarterbacks. However, there's something to be said about the teams behind them that were on top of the NFL in Tampa, Green Bay, Detroit and Arizona. New Orleans was at 14th with 114.9 yards/game.

Playing this scenario out, the Saints would need to fortify their trenches on the interior and then figure out what to do with Derek Carr. Drafting a player like Ashton Jeanty could help them lean a little more on Spencer Rattler. He could pair very well with Alvin Kamara and provide a legitimate one-two punch that New Orleans is missing.

Also remember that Taysom Hill won't likely be seeing the field until September as a best-case scenario. Ground and pound is a good strategy for a lot of reasons, and if Jeanty lands in New Orleans to help lead that attack, then it could pay off in a few ways for a Saints team that desperately needs to get back into the postseason.

Be sure to keep up with the Saints this offseason with our Second And Saints podcast. Check out our YouTube channel and buckle up for an eventful few months as New Orleans will hire a new head coach and have many decisions on their hands.

Also please be sure to support the new endeavor on Athlon Sports by joining our community here and post your comments on the article to interact with us!

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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