The 2025 NFL Draft looms just a couple of days away, which means general managers and coaches across the league are finalizing their big boards and hitting the phones with trade offers. This draft class is loaded with talent on both sides of the ball, so Thursday night’s first-round festivities are sure to be a blast.
The New Orleans Saints pick ninth overall with a litany of potential options at positions of need. Which direction will they go in the first round once they’re on the clock? Here’s a Saints draft prediction for Thursday night.
Team Needs
Offensive Line: The Saints have a couple of great players on their offensive line between RG Cesar Ruiz, LT Taliese Fuaga, and C Erick McCoy. However, there’s a massive hole at LG and now that Ryan Ramcyk retired, there’s an open spot at RT if Trevor Penning isn’t the long-term answer. Free agent-acquisition Will Clapp brings versatility at the interior spots and may very well start at LG, but he’s not signed to a long-term deal. New head coach Kellen Moore just came to New Orleans from the Philadelphia Eagles, so after working with a fantastic O-line there, watch for the Saints to take a stud for the trenches.
Cornerback: The Saints lost Paulson Adebo during free agency, which leaves them down a starting corner. Alontae Taylor is talented and Kool-Aid McKinstry is a solid young talent, but adding a bona fide stud to this position group would qualify as a massive improvement.
EDGE: This group of first-round edge-rushers are stacked, and the Saints need to explore a long-term option to play alongside Chase Young and an aging Cam Jordan. The new coaching staff with Brandon Staley at defensive coordinator might search for an athletic linebacker for their revamped 3-4 defense. There’s myriad options to fill this role, so EDGE is a distinct possibility at ninth overall.
Betting Odds on DraftKings Sportsbook
On DraftKings Sportsbook, the most likely position to be taken by the Saints in the first round is defensive line/EDGE at +115 odds. Offensive line holds the second-best odds at +250, followed by quarterback at +400.
The possibility of New Orleans taking a signal-caller remains uncertain, but there’s plenty of smoke surrounding this selection. While Cam Ward won’t be on the board at ninth overall, the Saints could either trade up or pivot to another passer. Colorado product Shedeur Sanders is mocked to the Big Easy by a handful of pundits, while Ole Miss’ Jaxson Dart lingers as a quarterback option with higher upside. Bear in mind that Derek Carr is still presumed to be New Orleans’ starter, but a shoulder issue might sideline the veteran for part of the season (and his contract situation is less than ideal). Perhaps the Saints consider drafting a younger, flashier option after all.
Potential Picks
Jalon Walker, EDGE, Georgia: This athletic edge rusher led the Bulldogs with 5.0 sacks in 2023, then tied for the team lead last season with 10.5 in 14 games. He’s not just a passing downs guy, though. Walker tallied 60 tackles last season and is twitchy getting off the line of scrimmage. He’d fit in this new 3-4 scheme like a glove.
Kelvin Banks Jr., OT, Texas: A multi-time All-American, Banks is one of a handful of great tackle prospects in this class. He anchored the offensive line for a Texas team which made multiple runs in the College Football Playoff. The guy comes in at 6-foot-5 and 315 pounds, and while unconventional, he might could slide into that opening at LG. The talent certainly isn’t a question, though there’d be a bit of an adjustment period.
Will Johnson, CB, Michigan: If Travis Hunter weren’t in this draft class, Johnson would be a surefire lock to be the first cornerback off the board. The Michigan product possesses great size and shuts opponents down, so there’s plenty to like about the prospect. The only concern? He was a bit injury-prone during his time in college, including a hamstring issue which lingered for a while. He’s a playmaker though and would step in with the chance to make a huge impact from day one.
