The New Orleans Saints have plenty of holes to fill in the 2025 NFL draft, which means that a number of different positions could be addressed in the first round. The consensus likely options seem to be the defensive end spot first with both wide receiver and offensive line falling behind.
Shockingly, though, Pro Football Focus revealed the player that is most often picked for the Saints in their mock drafts and it was wide receiver Luther Burden III. Here was their explanation:
Burden is an ideal “five-tool,” multi-sport athlete for the receiver position in the NFL. The first-round talent is as well-rounded as they come, with the ability to succeed at any receiver spot in any offense.
The Missouri Tigers star has been one of the most fun players to watch in college football, but the fit with New Orleans could be questionable.
Burden had 192 catches with 2,264 yards for 21 touchdowns in his three seasons with the Tigers. He also ran the ball 34 times for 234 yards and four more touchdowns. This is the type of player that can do anything that a receiver could be asked to do and does it well. The issue comes with the fact that he is a smaller wide receiver.
His fit with Chris Olave and Rashid Saheed is interesting, He is notably heavier than both of the Saints receivers, but is also shorter than them at a listed 5-foot-11 and 205 pounds. Chris Olave is listed at 6-foot-0 and 187 pounds, while Shaheed is listed at 6-foot-0 and 180 pounds. Given that they already have two deep threats that can be moved around the offense and fill a gadget role, the expectation was more that New Orleans would try to add a bigger body to the room.
Still, the talent with Burden is undeniable. There is a case to be argued that the Saints should just draft the player that they think is best and figure the rest out around them. If they feel like Burden is that guy, they should go after him. Something to keep in mind is that Burden’s play caller has been Kirby Moore, younger brother of Saints head coach Kellen Moore. Maybe that relationship gives the Saints an inside track on what Burden can do at the next level.