Saints GM Mickey Loomis pours cold water on team drafting QB in first round

That raises doubt over the team's likelihood of selecting Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders.

However, the question is whether selecting Sanders at No. 9 would be considered an overdraft. He's the top quarterback on longtime ESPN NFL Draft analyst Mel Kiper's big board and the fifth-ranked prospect overall.

Sanders isn't viewed as highly by The Athletic's Dane Brugler, who ranked him No. 34 overall. Sanders is No. 20 on NFL Network draft analyst Daniel Jeremiah's big board.

Other comments from Loomis painted a clearer picture of New Orleans' plans, sharing that he is on the same page as first-year head coach Kellen Moore on building the roster "from the lines back," according to Saints reporter Nick Underhill.

In recent mock drafts from The Ringer's Todd McShay and ESPN's Peter Schrager, the Saints select Georgia edge-rusher Mykel Williams at No. 9.

While both view him as a logical eventual replacement for veteran defensive end Cam Jordan, New Orleans has struggled to find a successor to Jordan in the first round over the years, including whiffing on Marcus Davenport (2018) and Payton Turner (2021).

Per Sports Info Solutions, Williams (6-foot-5, 260 pounds) is the No. 34 overall prospect and eighth-best edge-rusher in the class. Arguably, the last thing the Saints should do is add another edge-rusher project with their valuable first-round pick.

As WVUE Fox 8's Sean Fazende wrote, Loomis said the goal at No. 9 is to land "someone to count for the next 8-10 years."

Loomis later shared the Saints won't pick up offensive tackle Trevor Penning's fifth-year option, which could make it a position to watch in Round 1.

Earlier this month, reports surfaced that quarterback Derek Carr (shoulder) is uncertain for 2025, increasing the need for New Orleans to add a quarterback.

If the Saints pass on one during Thursday's opening round, they'll risk having most QBs off the board by the time they're on the clock again 31 picks later.

With the Browns, Giants and Raiders among the teams that could draft a quarterback early on Day 2, the Saints might have few good options at No. 40.

As much as New Orleans needs a quarterback, it could come up empty. If it neglects to address the position in the first round, it will require a solid plan to find one later.