Mel Kiper Jr.'s most recent mock draft could spur Saints draft debate

Could the Saints do something during the 2025 NFL Draft that they haven't done in generations?

According to ESPN NFL Draft analyst Mel Kiper Jr., they might.

In his most recent mock draft for the upcoming NFL Draft (April 24-26), Kiper has New Orleans selecting Ole Miss quarterback Jaxson Dart at No. 9 overall.

In 2024, Dart led the SEC in completion percentage (69.3 percent), passing yards (4,279) and yards per attempt (10.8). He threw for 29 touchdowns and six interceptions while adding 495 rushing yards and three rushing touchdowns on 124 carries.

He has the mobility first-year Saints head coach Kellen Moore prefers in a quarterback, making Dart a potentially fascinating fit in New Orleans.

Dart has been one of the biggest risers during the predraft process following an impressive NFL Scouting Combine performance. Before it began, only two quarterback prospects, Cam Ward and Shedeur Sanders, were viewed as legitimate first-round talents.

With so many quarterback-needy teams existing, the demand could force teams to find Dart more attractive than he might be.

In CBS Sports' initial scouting preview of Dart in January 2025, draft analyst Dave Richard compared Dart to former first-round flameout Christian Ponder.

Concerns about Dart's ability to lead a pro-style offense after running a gimmicky attack under Lane Kiffin at Ole Miss are valid and won't be addressed until he is on an NFL roster.

For the Saints, drafting Dart would come with risks. If they want to take a swing at a prospect, it might be worth it to approach the Titans about trading for the No. 1 pick.

Under general manager Mickey Loomis, New Orleans has been one of the league's most aggressive teams regarding moving up in the draft. If it wants a quarterback, pursuing a trade to land Ward, the likely No. 1 pick, could be the better option than banking the future on the third-best QB prospect in the 2025 class.

It might seem counterintuitive for the Saints to trade up and part with valuable draft capital when they're up against the salary-cap wall and could use cost-controlled rookie contracts. Still, a deal would be worth it if we're talking about landing a franchise quarterback.

Loomis has proved adept at manipulating the cap in New Orleans' favor, and he'd likely have more tricks up his sleeve to support Ward if he becomes the Saints quarterback.

On Monday, Ward was receptive to the idea of playing for the Saints before receiving the Manning Award, handed annually to college football's best quarterback. The event was hosted in New Orleans, and Ward discussed a recent positive meeting with Moore at the combine.

"It was a great meeting, especially if you get a chance to play with a Super Bowl coach like coach Moore," Ward said.

"The Saints were one of my favorite teams growing up when I was little," Ward added.