After spending most of the offseason with no quarterback, the New York Giants now have veterans Russell Wilson and Jameis Winston set to fight for the starting job. These two are not long-term answers under center, but the fact both players are there heavily suggests the Giants will not select a quarterback during the 2025 NFL Draft. With Miami’s Cam Ward presumed to be the first-overall pick, Coloardo’s Shedeur Sanders could fall in the NFL Draft, leading to the first massive trade of the offseason. The New Orleans Saints need a quarterback, and they could get one by trading up with the New England Patriots.
Saints, Patriots Could Agree to Massive NFL Draft Trade After Russell Wilson Signing
While every team’s draft board varies to some extent, the general consensus among NFL Draft analysts is that there are two elite prospects in this class: Penn State’s Abdul Carter and Colorado’s Travis Hunter. Quarterback is the game’s most important position by a wide margin, which is why Miami’s Cam Ward is currently penciled to go off the board with the first-overall pick. Assuming Carter and Hunter are the next two picks, the New England Patriots will be on the clock with no clear choice.
Shedeur Sanders is still on the board in this hypothetical, but the Patriots would never select him. While the 2024 season was largely a disaster for New England, they did find their franchise quarterback in Drake Maye. The UNC product had a strong season in a disastrous environment and should only improve with Stefon Diggs, Morgan Moses, and a competent head coach in Mike Vrabel.
Even after their offseason spending spree, this team still has holes littered throughout the roster. If there are no elite prospects left on the board, New England should seek a trade partner, and the Saints could be the ideal choice. Derek Carr will return for another season, but he’s not a long-term fix at the position. Head coach Kellen Moore will want to build his offense around a young quarterback, and Sanders could be the best option left on the board. The only question is, what could an NFL Draft trade look like?
Possible Trade Package
If the Patriots and Saints are going to work out a trade during the 2025 NFL Draft, then they must find a deal that makes sense for both teams. Drafttek has developed a formula that assigns a value to each pick, and we can use this to find a realistic return for the fourth-overall selection.
According to the chart, the Patriots first-round pick is worth 1,800 points. The Saints currently hold the ninth-overall selection (1,350 points) and the 40th selection (500 points), which should be the starting point for any negotiation. The value of the Saints first two picks is roughly equal to New England’s fourth-overall selection, and perhaps New England could throw in a late-round pick to even the sides.
Alternatively, the Saints might not want to forfeit their first two picks in the 2025 NFL Draft and would rather send the ninth-overall pick and a 2026 first-round pick in a trade. New England would likely accept this in a heartbeat, as the rebuilding Patriots need all the high-end talent they can get. This team won’t compete for a Super Bowl in 2025, so they might as well accumulate talent and hope for an additional top-15 pick in 2026.
Main Photo: Troy Taormina – Imagn Images
The post Russell Wilson Signing Could Lead to Blockbuster NFL Draft Trade appeared first on Last Word on Pro Football.