For decades, the Saints have followed a clear organizational logic: build through the lines, bet on stability, and leave quarterback gambles to more desperate teams. They haven’t taken a quarterback in the first round since Archie Manning in 1971, a streak that’s spanned 14 head coaches, two ownership eras, and the entirety of the Drew Brees era. But with Derek Carr nursing a shoulder injury that’s expected to linger into the summer, that logic is being tested. The injury isn’t catastrophic, but it reopens a conversation the Saints had been quietly avoiding: what comes next, and when?
Carr is under contract but not untouchable. His deal gives the Saints an out after 2025, and internally, there has been growing acknowledgment that a long-term answer at center still hasn’t materialized. That’s part of why the Saints have done more work on this quarterback class than they’re letting on. While early smoke connected them to Shedeur Sanders at No. 9, their minimal presence at his Pro Day tells a different story.
The reason? While the Giants and the Browns were present at Sanders’ Pro Day, the Saints had limited attendance that didn’t even include the Head Coach. Now, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, New Orleans wants to draft a QB, no doubt. But maybe not at No. 9 or maybe not Sanders.
Enter Jaxson Dart of Ole Miss, and according to a personnel executive, “I don’t think New Orleans is taking Shedeur. I think they’re hot and heavy on Jaxson Dart.” And that, folks, is where it all gets pretty interesting. See, Schefter believes that the Saints require bolstering both their O-line and D-line in the draft. That means whether they would draft Dart in the first round or the second round—it’s really hard to pin down.
To make it spicier, coach Moore, assistant general manager Jeff Ireland, and defensive coordinator Brandon Staley visited the defenders Jalon Walker and Mykel Williams on Thursday. Yeah, both of them are projected to be first-round picks. That said, maybe—just maybe, the Saints could use their No. 9 pick to draft a defensive lineman. But what about Jaxson Dart?
Well, if New Orleans chooses a defensive lineman in the first round, Dart would surely be their next pick, whether at No. 40 in the second round or a trade-up. The interesting part? They’re already reportedly making a few phone calls to move up for drafting Dart. And they’ve got ammo to make it happen too—two third-round picks and two fourth-round picks. All in all, whether it’s in the first round or second round, the Saints are going to draft a QB.
As for Shedeur Sanders… well, it’s still hard to figure out where he’s going to land on Thursday.
Shedeur Sanders’ draft stock dip is giving the Steelers a hard time
If there were a Hall of Fame for the quarterback carousel, the Steelers would definitely have a spot at the top of the list. Think about this: they had Russell Wilson and Justin Fields last year, and now both of ’em packed their bags for different teams. They’ve got their sight on Aaron Rodgers, but it’s not even confirmed whether he wants to play or not. And now’s the juicier part? Even if they want to draft a QB this month—yeah, it’s not going to be a walk in the park. Why?
Well, for starters, they weren’t planning to draft a QB. However, considering Shedeur Sanders’ draft stock is experiencing a drop, the Steelers had a second thought. And now all the options are on the table. The kicker? See it this way: Pittsburgh has the No. 21 pick in the first round. And the folks out there are believing that Sanders could go as high as No. 3 to the Giants or as low as No. 21 to the Steelers. The catch?
A few teams are potentially trading up in the range of No. 4 to No. 2o to draft Sanders. Now, if the Steelers want to draft Shedeur, they’ve an option to trade up. But if you’re thinking that Pittsburgh is going to trade up, think again. Because it’s probably not going to happen. The reason’s pretty simple: they’ve already traded their second-round pick while trading for DK Metcalf.
That means it’s more likely the Steelers would trade down and not up. But that makes their No. 21 pick even more crucial. Because if they pass on a QB at 21, then they would have to wait until Round 3. Long story short: the Steelers have been stuck in QB limbo all offseason, and now, with the NFL draft just around the corner, things still haven’t budged. Plain and simple.
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