Saints May Target Shedeur Sanders in 2025 NFL Draft as Future Quarterback
As the 2025 NFL Draft approaches, the New Orleans Saints find themselves in an intriguing position with their quarterback situation. While Derek Carr is likely to remain the starter for the 2025 season due to his contract, the Saints could be looking toward the future and seeking a long-term solution at quarterback. With the ninth overall pick in the upcoming draft, the team has an opportunity to secure a potential franchise quarterback — and one name that has emerged as a possibility is Shedeur Sanders.
Sanders, the star quarterback from the University of Colorado and son of legendary coach Deion Sanders, has seen his draft stock fluctuate in recent months. Initially projected to be a top-five pick, Sanders’ stock has recently dropped, and he could now fall to the mid-first round, or even out of the first round entirely. This has created an opportunity for the Saints to potentially take a swing at the dynamic quarterback if he’s available at No. 9.
As The Athletic’s Zack Rosenblatt pointed out, the Saints are stuck in a difficult situation with Carr’s contract, making it unlikely they would move on from him in 2025. The team is currently $47 million over the salary cap and would gain minimal relief by cutting Carr before June 1st, so they’ll likely roll with him for another year. However, that doesn’t mean they shouldn’t look to the future. If Sanders falls to the ninth pick, the Saints could use that selection to secure their quarterback of the future and move away from the long-term financial commitment tied to Carr.
“Getting Sanders at No. 9 would be a nice way for the Saints to potentially get out of the rut they’ve constantly been stuck in, staring each offseason in salary cap hell,” Rosenblatt wrote. “He would offer the Saints a way out of the quarterback purgatory they’ve found themselves in since Drew Brees retired.”
While the Saints may be tempted to add a player who can make an immediate impact to help them compete in the NFC South, drafting Sanders could still provide the team with long-term stability at the quarterback position. If Sanders lives up to his potential, he could take over as the face of the franchise in the near future, allowing the Saints to move on from Carr when the time is right.
The decision to draft Sanders, if he’s available, would signal the beginning of a new era for the Saints, as they look to move past their salary cap troubles and secure a future quarterback who can lead the team for years to come. As the draft looms closer, all eyes will be on the Saints and whether they take the risk on Shedeur Sanders and their potential future QB.