Saints’ Future Comes Into Focus: Ryan Wilson and Josh Edwards Reveal Complete 7-Round Mock Draft
The 2025 NFL Draft is fast approaching, and with each passing day, the stakes continue to rise for franchises seeking to shape their future. One of the most intriguing teams entering this year’s draft is the New Orleans Saints. Caught between chasing contention and rebooting key areas of the roster, the Saints are navigating a tight salary cap, lingering quarterback questions, and the need for fresh, impactful talent across both sides of the ball.
NFL Draft Insider Ryan Wilson and Draft Analyst Josh Edwards of CBS Sports teamed up to deliver a full 7-round Saints mock draft, and the duo didn’t hold back. Their selections reflect an aggressive yet practical blueprint designed to help the Saints compete in 2025 while also building for long-term success. Here’s a look at their mock draft selections and the thought process behind each pick.
With no first-round pick this year due to last year’s trade with the Eagles, the Saints will be sitting out on Day 1. But according to Wilson and Edwards, they’ll make their presence known early on Day 2. At No. 45 overall, the Saints address one of their most urgent needs: offensive line. They project the Saints to select Arizona left tackle Jordan Morgan, a polished pass protector with versatility to play both guard and tackle. Morgan brings athleticism, quick feet, and a technician’s approach that would immediately bolster a front five that struggled with consistency and health last season. Ryan Ramczyk’s injury uncertainty and Trevor Penning’s uneven development have left the Saints vulnerable on the edge. Morgan provides insurance—and potentially a long-term starter at left tackle.
In the third round (No. 75 overall), Wilson and Edwards have the Saints tapping into the defensive side of the ball with the selection of Iowa cornerback Cooper DeJean. Known for his ball skills, elite instincts, and ability to play multiple roles in the secondary, DeJean represents a major value pick here—especially considering some mock drafts had him going in the late first or early second rounds. The Saints have one of the league’s oldest cornerback rooms, and Marshon Lattimore’s future remains a question mark due to his contract and injuries. DeJean can play outside corner, in the slot, or even as a roaming safety. He fits perfectly into Dennis Allen’s complex coverage schemes and offers rare playmaking ability.
Just four picks later at No. 79, New Orleans stays on defense by selecting NC State linebacker Payton Wilson. This is a bet on upside and production. Wilson had a phenomenal final college season, showing sideline-to-sideline speed, coverage instincts, and a nose for the football. The medical history is real—multiple knee and shoulder surgeries—but his ceiling is that of a high-end starter. With Demario Davis nearing the end of his career, Wilson gives the Saints a young linebacker with leadership potential and the explosiveness to thrive in both run defense and coverage.
Moving into the fourth round (No. 109), Wilson and Edwards shift focus to the offensive skill positions by selecting USC wide receiver Brenden Rice. The son of Hall of Famer Jerry Rice, Brenden is more than just a legacy name. At 6-foot-3, he brings size, physicality, and contested catch ability that the Saints’ receiving corps currently lacks. Chris Olave is a budding star, and Rashid Shaheed has carved out a niche, but the Saints need more size and reliability on the outside. Rice offers a red zone target and chain mover who can grow into a key role quickly, particularly if Michael Thomas is no longer part of the future.
In the fifth round (No. 149), the Saints go back to the trenches and draft Texas defensive lineman T’Vondre Sweat. At 360 pounds, Sweat is a mountain in the middle and a throwback to space-eating nose tackles who command double teams and clog interior gaps. He’s not going to rack up sacks, but he doesn’t need to. The Saints’ run defense took a step back last season, and Sweat could play a pivotal role as an early-down anchor who frees up linebackers and reduces stress on the edge rushers. His presence could also help maximize the value of former first-rounder Bryan Bresee.
Next, at pick No. 168, the Saints stay in Texas and select Longhorns running back Keilan Robinson. This is a play for explosiveness and versatility. Robinson may not be an every-down back, but he’s a dynamic athlete with serious burst. He contributed on special teams, ran gadget plays, and worked as a receiving threat at Texas. With Alvin Kamara aging and Kendre Miller still a bit of an unknown, adding a spark-plug weapon like Robinson makes sense. He’s the kind of player offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak could scheme into creative roles on third downs and special teams.
With two sixth-round picks, Wilson and Edwards continue to fill out the roster with depth and upside. At No. 190, they project the Saints to take Missouri edge rusher Darius Robinson. While not an elite athlete, Robinson is a steady and powerful defensive end with a strong motor. He’s capable of contributing in a rotational role early on, especially against the run. The Saints need depth behind Cameron Jordan and Carl Granderson, and Robinson fits the mold of past Saints draft picks—tough, coachable, and productive in the SEC.
Later in the sixth round (No. 199), the Saints address the quarterback room with the selection of Tulane’s Michael Pratt. A four-year starter with solid poise, Pratt isn’t a high-upside passer, but he’s a steady hand who knows how to manage games. With Derek Carr locked in for now and Jake Haener still developing, Pratt provides additional competition and a low-risk investment at the most important position in football. If nothing else, he can push Haener and potentially stick as a reliable backup.
Finally, with their seventh-round pick (No. 239), Wilson and Edwards cap off the mock draft with a special teams contributor and athletic project: Oregon State safety Kitan Oladapo. Known for his toughness and tackling ability, Oladapo could compete for a role on special teams while developing into a depth safety. The Saints have valued versatile DBs in the past, and Oladapo brings good size and physicality that could earn him a spot on the 53-man roster with a strong camp.
In total, Wilson and Edwards’ Saints mock draft offers a well-balanced, thoughtful approach. It addresses key roster needs—offensive tackle, cornerback, defensive line, wide receiver—while also mixing in high-upside swings at linebacker and running back. It’s clear the duo believes the Saints can remain competitive in a weakened NFC South with the right injection of young talent, especially along the offensive line and in the secondary.
The overarching theme of this mock is one of intelligent roster construction. Instead of chasing headlines with flashy picks or gambling on risky skill-position talent early, the Saints build from the inside out and take advantage of positional depth in the middle rounds. It reflects the reality of a franchise trying to navigate the end of one competitive window while preparing for another.
In Wilson and Edwards’ vision, the 2025 Saints are tougher in the trenches, faster on defense, and deeper at key positions. While no mock draft is perfect—and reality will likely veer in a few surprising directions—the blueprint laid out here is one that gives fans hope for sustainable success, not just another year of treading water.
The Saints have been stuck in a cycle of almost-contending since Drew Brees’ retirement. This mock draft, if it were to come to life, might just be the jolt the franchise needs to turn the page and start writing a new chapter—one built on smart drafting, steady leadership, and a core of young, hungry talent ready to bring the Saints back to prominence.
