There’s been a lot of buzz around the Saints and Shedeur Sanders.
The 2025 NFL Draft is right around the corner, and the New Orleans Saints hold the No. 9 pick in the draft. For the first time in a while, they’re in prime position to go get a quarterback in the first round (which they haven’t done since selecting Archie Manning back in 1971), and there’s been a lot of buzz surrounding them and Colorado QB, Shedeur Sanders.
Today, we’re building a three-round mock draft around the Saints trading up to select their QB of the future.
TRADE: Round 1, Pick 5 – Shedeur Sanders, QB, Colorado
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There’s been some buzz around the Brown and Giants possibly selecting Sanders, but in this mock (I used PFF’s mock draft simulator), he slid out of the top three. In this case, I have the Saints moving up with the Jaguars to pick five to select Sanders. PFF made me give up pick nine, next year’s first and a 2026 fourth to make the move.
I know there are mixed opinions among the fanbase, but I’m not a huge fan of moving up for Sanders. If he falls to nine and they like him, take him, but I don’t think giving up next year’s first is worth it. But, if they’re going to draft him, I think a trade will be necessary.
Sanders has a lot of good traits, but there isn’t really anything he does extremely well. He’s very accurate but doesn’t have a super live arm and isn’t the most athletic guy in the world. I think he can develop into a fine QB, but when you give up two firsts for a guy, you need him to be a Pro Bowler, and I don’t know if he gets there. I could be wrong, but we’ll have to see.
Round 2, Pick 40 – Trey Amos, CB, Ole Miss
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In the second round, I have the Saints grabbing their first (and only) defender in this three-round mock draft. Corner isn’t the biggest defensive need for the Saints, and they would probably be better off using this pick on a defensive lineman, but I didn’t like my options and I’m a big fan of Trey Amos’s game.
The Ole Miss corner had a terrific 2024 season where he allowed a 51.6% completion percentage, 280 yards and two touchdowns while picking off three passes and deflecting 10 more. He did that against some of the best quarterbacks and wide receivers in the country, which is even more impressive. I watched him in person at LSU this past year, and in that game, he allowed two of his nine targets to be caught for 29 yards and picked off a pass.
If there were better DL options available, I would’ve gone with one of them, but I felt Amos was the best defensive player available in this simulation, and I don’t think the Saints have the luxury of being picky.
Round 3, Pick 71 – Charles Grant, OT, William & Mary
(Sorry, Getty and USA Today don’t have pictures of Charles Grant)
With their first pick of the third round, I have the Saints adding to their offensive line with William & Mary OT, Charles Grant. He’s been a rapid riser on a lot of draft boards during this pre-draft process, and he’s someone I think can develop into a starter eventually.
Grant posted elite run blocking (90.4) and pass blocking (88.1) grades according to PFF and allowed nine pressures this past season. He obviously didn’t play the greatest talent in the world, but he’s 6-foot-5 (34.5-inch arms) and weighs 311 pounds. He also brings over 2,600 snaps of experience to the table.
I’ll always take a shot on finding a potential starting tackle in the third round, especially when you have another pick coming up not too much later.
Round 3, Pick 93 – Harold Fannin Jr., TE, Bowling Green
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The fourth and final player I have the Saints selecting in this three-round mock draft is Harold Fannin Jr., a tight end from Bowling Green.
Fannin had an amazing 2024 season, catching 117 passes for 1,555 yards and 10 touchdowns. Yes, you read that right. It wasn’t against the best competition, but seeing that kind of production from any receiver, much less a tight end, is wildly impressive. There are some pass protection concerns, but he also stood out as a run blocker last season, earning a 75.2 season grade in that area.
This is a loaded tight end class, and Fannin would probably be a second-round talent any other year (and could still end up being one this year), but with guys like Tyler Warren, Colston Loveland and Mason Taylor in this class, he’ll end up going a bit later than he probably should.