The 2025 NFL Draft will be between April 24-26 in Green Bay. For the New Orleans Saints, it will be the 59th draft in franchise history.
New Orleans comes into this year's draft with a new coach in Kellen Moore and an almost entirely new staff. They also have several glaring needs on both sides of the ball after a 5-12 finish and fourth straight year without a postseason appearance.
The Saints managed to clear enough salary cap space to make some moves in free agency. However, they were always going to be reliant on the draft to get both better and younger.
Here is my first full 7-round mock draft for the Saints this offseason (without projected trades)
Round 1 (#9 overall)
Tennessee quarterback Joe Milton III (7) is sacked by Georgia defensive lineman Mykel Williams (13). © Saul Young/News Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK
Mykel Williams, EDGE (Georgia)
Yes, the Saints surprisingly re-signed Chase Young while returning both Cameron Jordan and Carl Granderson. This is also a defense that 27th against the pass, 31st against the run, and got only 31 combined sacks from all their ends and edge rushers over the last two seasons.
Edge rusher is still a major need for this team, especially in new coordinator Brandon Staley's expected 3-4 base scheme.
Mykel Williams has been a standout on a deep and talented Bulldogs defense for the last three seasons. Over those three years, he has 14 sacks and 23 tackles for loss. In 2024, he recorded 5 sacks and 9 stops for loss, both career bests.
Williams can play too upright at times and needs to add strength at the point of attack. However, he plays with decent power and has tremendous upside as an all-around defender.
Listed at 6'5" and 265-Lbs., Williams combines his formidable length with explosive athletic ability on the edge. He closes ground on the ball in a flash and has outstanding finishing burst.
Round 2 (#40 overall)
Ohio State Buckeyes running back TreVeyon Henderson (32) is tackled by Notre Dame Fighting Irish safety Xavier Watts (0) in the CFP National Championship. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-Imagn Images
Xavier Watts, S (Notre Dame)
Watts has been one of the nation's most underrated defenders the last two years for a Fighting Irish team that surprisingly advanced to the National Championship Game this season. Over those two years, he has an eye-popping 13 interceptions and incredible 273 return yards. Last season, he picked off six passes and added four stops for loss among his 82 total tackles.
Most consider Watts to be the second-rated safety in this draft behind only Malaki Starks of Georgia. He has the versatility to cover the slot but is projected more as a traditional deep safety who will line up all around a defensive formation.
Watts shows terrific play recognition against both the pass and run. His instincts and anticipation make him a potential immediate impact starter. Stiff change-of-direction may make him vulnerable to shifty slot receivers, but he otherwise offers the versatility to line up anywhere in a defensive formation.
The signing of S Justin Reid in free agency diminished the need here for New Orleans, but only slightly. This is still a position that greatly underperformed the last two years. A three-year starter, Watts shows incredible instincts to go along with good athleticism for tremendous range.
Round 3 (#71 overall)
Iowa Hawkeyes running back Kaleb Johnson (2) runs for a touchdown against the Northwestern Wildcats. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-Imagn Images
Kaleb Johnson, RB (Iowa)
Alvin Kamara will remain the focus of the New Orleans. However, the team has had no viable complement to him in the backfield outside of the versatile Taysom Hill. Johnson is coming off 1,537 rushing yards and 21 touchdowns for the Hawkeyes. Both numbers led the Big 10 on his way to 2nd Team All-American accolades.
Built like a tank, Johnson is an agile runner that has good vision and hits the hole decisively. He's shown the ability to handle a heavy workload and can get outside as well as being effective between the tackles.
Johnson must improve greatly in pass protection, an area that will keep him from every down duties until it gets better. He also has an upright running style that makes him an easy target for tacklers and has very limited route skills as a receiver.
A potential feature back as his upside, Johnson's vision, cutting ability, and power/agility combination should make him a potential Day 2 steal. At the very least, his floor would be a better complement to Kamara than what the Saints have had in nearly four years.
Round 3 (#93 overall)
Georgia Bulldogs offensive lineman Dylan Fairchild (53) against the TCU Horned Frogs during the CFP national championship game. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
Dylan Fairchild, G (Georgia)
Few teams need more interior offensive line help than the Saints. As a result, this spot could be addressed much earlier in the draft. Fairchild is a two-year starter for one of the nation's top programs.
At 6'5" and 318-Lbs., Fairchild has the size for the NFL but must use his natural power more consistently. The quick feet and agility are both there, making him a more advanced pass protector than run blocker at this stage of his career.
Fairchild has the awareness and quickness to pick up inside blitzes or stunts, a major weakness for New Orleans in recent seasons. If he responds to good coaching to maximize his strength and power, he should be a reliable starter in any system.
Round 4 (#112 overall)
TCU Horned Frogs wide receiver Savion Williams (3) catches a touchdown against Oklahoma State Cowboys cornerback Cam Smith (3). Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-Imagn Images
Savion Williams, WR (TCU)
Several Saints fans want Williams' TCU teammate Jack Bech. While that would make a terrific story, I think he's off the board by here. Instead, New Orleans settles for the 6'4", 222-Lb., and extremely gifted Williams.
In the three years with the Horned Frogs, Williams had 130 catches for 1,575 yards and 14 touchdowns. His best year was 2024 with 60 receptions, 611 yards, and six scores. A raw route runner that's had problems with focus drops, he's a developmental prospect with tons of upside.
While the consistency isn't there, Williams has shown big-play potential and the ability to be an ideal matchup problem against defenses. He has the strength to beat press coverage without a problem and is an excellent open field runner after the catch.
Kellen Moore has always had a big receiver to create matchup advantages wherever he's been as offensive coordinator. On the current New Orleans roster, no such weapon exists. It could come much earlier in the draft, but expect the Saints to get one.
Round 4 (#131 overall)
Iowa's Jay Higgins (34) lines up against Iowa State. © Julia Hansen/Iowa City Press-Citizen / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
Jay Higgins, LB (Iowa)
Higgins has improved every year for an outstanding Hawkeyes defense and has notched an eye-popping 295 combined tackles over the last two seasons. In 2024, he also added a career-high 4 interceptions to his resume'.
Not the biggest (6' and 224-Lbs.) or the most athletic linebacker, Higgins simply makes tons of plays. Sound familiar Saints fans? He does it with a ferocious tenacity and terrific football instincts.
Higgins won't add much as a blitzer, but moves with great awareness in zones and agility in man coverage. Against the run, he's never out of position and flows to the ball decisively to stuff runners in the gap.
The Saints need quality linebackers to fit Brandon Staley's 3-4 system. They also need to finally find an eventual replacement for Demario Davis. Higgins potentially checks off both boxes.
Round 6 (#184 overall)
Georgia Bulldogs defensive lineman Nazir Stackhouse (78) sacks Mississippi Rebels quarterback Jaxson Dart (2). Mandatory Credit: Petre Thomas-Imagn Images
Nazir Stackhouse, NT (Georgia)
The mammoth Stackhouse was a quiet but effective contributor for the Bulldogs defense over his last three seasons. In that time, he recorded three sacks, nine tackles for loss, and even grabbed an interception.
Not much of a threat as a pass rusher, Stackhouse may be limited to early downs and short yardage situations. In that role, however, he's a space-eater who ties up multiple blockers, clogs up rushing lanes, and pushes blockers backwards with outstanding power.
Even with a recent trade for NT Davon Godchaux, the Saints need big-bodied run stuffers up front. At 6'4" and 327-Lbs., Stackhouse fits that role nicely.
Round 7 (#248)
Michigan Wolverines running back Donovan Edwards (7) runs against the Michigan State Spartans. © Junfu Han / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
Donovan Edwards, RB (Michigan)
An electric part of the Wolverines backfield, Edwards finished his collegiate career with over 3,000 scrimmage yards and 23 touchdowns. His best production was two seasons ago, with nearly 1,200 yards from scrimmage and has been slowed by nagging injuries and inconsistency since.
Edwards was never able to secure the lead back spot at Michigan. He's shown some inconsistent vision on inside runs when hitting the hole. Despite some explosive production, he doesn't have game-breaking acceleration to set him apart.
What Edwards adds is the skills of a versatile complementary back. He's an accomplished receiver out of the backfield, runs off tackle with excellent decisiveness, and finishes off plays with astonishing power.
Round 7 (#254)
Pitt Panthers offensive lineman Branson Taylor (78) blocks against the Virginia Tech Hokies. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images
Branson Taylor, OT (Pitt)
Able to play either tackle spot, the Panthers averaged only 19.1 points and went 1-6 after Taylor was sidelined by knee surgery last year. His medicals through pre-draft workouts bear watching, but he's a potential late-round steal.
For the NFL, Taylor projects as a right tackle or perhaps an inside move to guard. At Pitt, he struggled with athletic edge rushers. He had a tendency to open up his stance too early to overcompensate for his shorter arms and slower footwork. This left him vulnerable for inside counter moves or put him out of position against an inside stunt or blitz.
Taylor shows advanced skills as a run blocker. He fires off the line with formidable power and leverage, also showing the agility to get to the second level of a defense effectively. In pass protection, Taylor handles power rushers with excellent strength and leverage. He can combat speed rushers by quickly getting into position at the snap and maintains positioning throughout a rep without giving ground.
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This story was originally published March 18, 2025 at 6:08 AM.