How many picks do the New Orleans Saints have in the 2025 NFL Draft? The 2025 offseason could be a crucial one for a Saints team that may be in flux sooner rather than later. Their available capital may set the foundation for aggressive moves.
What Are the New Orleans Saints Draft Picks in 2025?
- Round 1, Pick 9
- Round 2, Pick 40
- Round 3, Pick 71
- Round 3, Pick 93 (from WAS)
- Round 4, Pick 112
- Round 4, Pick 131 (from WAS)
- Round 6, Pick 184
- Round 7, Pick 248 (from PHI)
How Many Picks Do the Saints Have in the 2025 NFL Draft?
Currently, the Saints have eight picks in the 2025 NFL Draft. Ahead of the NFL trade deadline, the Saints made a massive splash by sending Marshon Lattimore to the Commanders in exchange for a third-round pick, a fourth-round pick, and the return of their sixth-round pick.
New Orleans traded its Round 5 selection to the Washington Commanders in exchange for DT John Ridgeway III and a 2025 sixth-round pick.
The Saints’ original Round 7 selection was part of the trade that shipped defensive back C.J. Gardner-Johnson to the Philadelphia Eagles. In return for Gardner-Johnson and a 2025 seventh-rounder, the Saints received a 2023 fifth-rounder and a 2024 sixth-rounder.
Interestingly, the Saints haven’t had more than seven picks in a given NFL Draft cycle since the 2015 NFL Draft. They’ve historically amassed less capital on average than other teams, which could be an ancillary factor for the team’s inability to remain a contender.
What Are the Saints’ Biggest Needs in 2025?
The New Orleans Saints had a tough season in 2024, and this offseason does not look like getting any easier. With major salary cap complications to navigate, it will be hard for them to make wholesale improvements. Unfortunately, they have a number of areas of need on a roster that ranked 22nd offensively and 19th defensively last season.
Offensively, the most urgent need is at guard, where Lucas Patrick is set to be a free agent this offseason. The Saints ranked 23rd in our offensive line metrics last year, but a lot of it was turbulence in terms of the structure of their line. While they had consistency at tackle, they had a rotating group at guard and center. There is talent there in Cesar Ruiz and Erik McCoy, but they need to find them a starting partner and depth options as backups.
MORE: Complete 7 Round Draft Order
The Saints’ wide receiver position is tough to judge because Chris Olave and Rashid Shaheed are two very talented players. The issue is health-based, with Olave suffering two concussions last season and Shaheed seeing his season end early due to a knee problem. Ideally, they need someone who can be their No. 1 if Olave struggles to stay on the field, and then bringing back a Marquez Valdes-Scantling will add another game-breaker.
Defensively, they have three pass rushers set to hit free agency. Chase Young was a major part of the defense last year and is someone they will need to find a replacement for. In the defensive backfield, Paulson Adebo is a free agent, and they traded away their No. 1 in Marshon Lattimore. Replacing both of those is going to be crucial to improving this defense.
We should not ignore the quarterback situation. Derek Carr was good last year, finishing 11th in our QB+ rankings. Unfortunately, he only played 10 games. In the seven games he did not play, the Saints went 0-7 with a combination of Spencer Rattler and Jake Haener. It is tough to project either of those as a reliable backup and potential successor to Carr if the Saints were to move on from him after 2025.