The first big waves of NFL free agency are now complete and team needs that are being saved for the 2025 draft are starting to become more apparent. As for the New Orleans Saints, they have focused on bringing back some key players with the only two major moves in adding to the roster coming at safety and the defensive interior.
There are still a handful of holes to address and they unfortunately did not end up with any compensatory picks to help out their roster construction. Here is a mock draft with the order of selections finalized and the first few days of free agency over with:
Round 1, Pick 9: Will Johnson, CB, Michigan
The Saints may be able to combine a best player available approach in the first round with their biggest need. Paulson Adebo leaving confirms that they must add a cornerback early in the draft, at least until they sign a replacement in free agency.
Johnson is one of the best overall players and undoubtedly the top boundary corner available. He had nine interceptions and 10 passes broken up over the two and a half seasons he played in college. He should come in as a pro-ready cornerback, which is exactly what New Orleans desperately needs.
Round 2, Pick 40: Bradyn Swinson, DE, LSU
Even though they did agree to an extension with Chase Young, the Saints should still look to improve their pass rush in the draft.
Swinson was a breakout star last year for the Tigers, picking up nine sacks and a whopping 60 total pressures. He was a constant presence in the opposing quarterbacks life and looks to have the toolset to do so in the NFL. His run defense leaves a little to be desired, but that is why New Orleans having depth and options on the defensive exterior would be beneficial.
Round 3, Pick 71: Cam Skattebo, RB, Arizona State
Skattebo is an interesting product as a small-school player that transferred to the Sun Devils and didn’t truly break out until last year. He was truly dominant in all areas, though. On the ground, he had 1,711 rushing yards and 21 touchdowns. He added 45 catches with 605 yards and three more score.
The running back rushes with a great motor and contact balance, making him a solid fit alongside Alvin Kamara.
Round 3, Pick 93: Tate Ratledge, OG, Georgia
Aside from capturing the hearts of football fans at the NFL Scouting Combine with his mullet waving in the wind as he ran his drills, Ratledge looks like he could be a mean interior offensive lineman.
He had a 9.97 Relative Athletic Score and moves like it. The guard could both likely start right away or provide great depth whiling adjusting to the NFL game, depending on where the coaching staff feels like he is at right now.
Round 4, Pick 112: Tory Horton, WR, Colorado State
Horton missed the majority of 2024 with a knee injury, but came back to dominate the combine with a 9.79 RAS. He is a 6-foot-2, near 200 pound receiver that ran a 4.41 40-yard dash.
In his last healthy season, he had 96 catches for 1,136 yards with eight touchdowns. It was his second season around that level of production. He can beat defenders down field and also possesses a great catch radius.
Round 4, Pick 131: O’Donnell Fortune, CB, South Carolina
Doubling dipping at corner could be a smart move for New Orleans, given just how thin they are at the position.
Fortune has a lot of football under his belt and looked like one of the most underrate players in college last season for the Gamecocks. Pro Football Focus gave him a 90.2 coverage grade last season, as he only really got beat in one game against the Ole Miss Rebels. He had seven career interceptions to go along with nine passes broken up and two forced fumbles.
Round 6, Pick 184: Jalin Conyers, TE, Texas Tech
Conyers never really had a breakout season in college, but did have at least 30 catches in each of his final three years. He finished his career with 104 catches for 1,166 yards and 11 touchdowns.
He had a great combine and has promise as a receiving threat at tight end with great explosiveness and agility to go along with reliable hands.
Round 7, Pick 248: Marcus Wehr, OL, Montana State
Wehr would likely be going higher in the draft if he played at a bigger school. He played both spots on the right side of the line in college, but looks more like a guard in the NFL at 6-foot-3 and 300 pounds.
He is strong and knows how to play the position well, which is all you can really ask for from a round seven offensive lineman.
