The New Orleans Saints started last season on a high note, but their momentum faded fast. After winning their first two games, they struggled the rest of the way, finishing 3-12 in their final 15 contests.
Some of that can be attributed to quarterback Derek Carr’s injury. But even with Carr under center, the team lacked the talent to sustain success.
While New Orleans has decided to stick with Carr for another year, they ultimately need to find a long-term answer at quarterback if they hope to compete for a Super Bowl. That’s why one analyst predicts they will select their “QB of the Future” in the 2025 NFL Draft.
Saints Projected To Select Jaxson Dart in the 2025 NFL Draft
Carr’s injury history continues to pile up, and even when healthy, he managed just 2,145 passing yards and 15 touchdowns in 10 games last season. If the Saints can get through another year with him, it might help an offense that finished as the 22nd-ranked unit in PFSN’s Offense+ metric.
However, with an aging roster, the Saints must start planning for the future. That’s why Marco Enriquez of PFSN projects New Orleans to select Ole Miss quarterback Jaxson Dart with the ninth overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft.
“New Orleans Saints head coach Kellen Moore has quite the rebuild ahead. And as an offensive-minded coach, it wouldn’t be surprising to see him take his quarterback of the future, Jaxson Dart,” Enriquez wrote in his latest three-round mock draft.
Enriquez rates Dart higher than Cam Ward and Shedeur Sanders and believes the Saints could develop him into their franchise quarterback by sitting him behind Carr for a season.
“Dart could sit behind Derek Carr for at least part of Year 1, which would benefit both the Saints and his development.
“Since Day 1, Dart has been my QB1—landing slightly ahead of Ward and Sanders in my prospect rankings. Some may question Dart’s aggressive, big-play mentality, but with strong coaching, he has all the traits to be a franchise cornerstone.
“Dart is a dual-threat QB with mobility and the ability to extend plays. His arm strength is promising, but improving his accuracy and decision-making under pressure will be a priority. Pairing him with Moore and Chris Olave could set the stage for a Saints resurgence.”
Dart is one of the most intriguing quarterbacks in this draft class, and his stock has risen significantly after a standout final season at Ole Miss. He set career highs across the board, including completion percentage (69.3%), passing yards (4,279), touchdowns (29), and QBR, while throwing just five interceptions.
With 41 starts over four years, the 21-year-old is a seasoned prospect. According to Enriquez, the Saints could also draft his top college target, Tre Harris, who tallied 1,030 receiving yards and seven touchdowns last season. That would create an explosive trio in New Orleans with Dart, Harris, and Chris Olave.
Since Dart may need time to develop, the Saints keeping Carr while also saving nearly $30 million against the cap could be one of their smartest moves in recent years.