Report: New Orleans Saints Won’t Draft Shedeur Sanders

Just days before the 2025 NFL Draft starts in Green Bay, Wisconsin, there seems to be a massive shift in the projections for the top 10 picks. Especially with one quarterback who seemed to be on their way to Louisiana, but is now likely to fall in the NFL Draft.

Reports are coming out at a high rate of speed that the New Orleans Saints have decided against taking Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders with their 9th overall pick in the first round. This was a selection that oddsmakers were leaning towards, as the Saints were the overwhelming favorites for weeks to take Sanders.

What Were The Odds Shedeur Sanders Was Drafted By The Saints?

For the last few weeks, oddsmakers with groups like FanDuel had the New Orleans Saints as the favorites to land Sanders in the first round. The odds were growing in their favor week-by-week. But something shifted this week.

The Saints didn't just slip a little in the betting odds, they dropped from being the favorite, to the 4th overall odds. Showing something has clearly shifted with the plans the Saints are putting together.

Why The Saints Won't Take Shedeur Sanders in the NFL Draft

The odds for the Saints to take Sanders shot up when it was announced that starting quarterback Derek Carr was dealing with a shoulder injury. The injury was reportedly bad enough that that Carr's 2025 season was in jeopardy.

This swung the door wide-open for the Saints to take a quarterback high in the draft. While Carr's injury creates immediate need for a quarterback, his age also creates a long-term need for a quarterback.

But suddenly, the Saints don't think Sanders is the answer.

Times-Picayune reporter Jeff Duncan, who is very reliable when it comes to the Saints, threw up a red flag to go along with the oddsmakers. He posted that he can "safely say" the Saints won't take Shedeur Sanders with the 9th pick.

This report has led sites like Sports Illustrated to start "filling in the gaps" about how the Saints feel about Sanders, which seems to follow how many Saints fans have been talking about the situation online.

Will the Saints Actually Trade Their First Round NFL Draft Pick?

But what if this is all word-play from someone? What if Jeff Duncan is right, but not in the way we're all thinking.

Some mock drafts that have been put out recently show the Saints not taking Sanders with the 9th overall pick...because they trade it to move up higher in the draft to take him. With some mock drafts showing they trade to the #4 pick, or the #5 pick, to move past other teams that might consider Sanders.

This probably has a lot to do with some experts considering Sanders to be the best quarterback in the draft. Even though Miami quarterback Cam Ward is expected to be the #1 overall pick from the Tennessee Titans, people think Sanders is better.

So if the Saints feel that Sanders is that valuable, they could move up to pick #4, take Sanders, and Jeff Duncan would still be right...because they didn't use the #9 pick to take him.

So Who Will the Saints Draft in the 2025 NFL Draft?

Many of the reports stating the Saints are out on a first round quarterback suggest the team will be looking to solidify their offensive and defensive lines first. That means the team will probably consider the "best available" lineman at the #9 pick.

If the Saints are moving in that direction, it will be less about who they want, and more about who is left. That's why "best available" becomes the solution. There's a mix of 5-6 names that could be available on both offensive and defensive lines if they stay at the #9 pick.

Following the "best available lineman" plan, the Saints could end up with either Kelvin Banks, OT - Texas, Armand Membou, OT - Missouri, Mykel Williams, DE - Georgia, or Shemar Stewart, DE - Texas A&M.