Giants owner’s comments may control Kellen Moore’s destiny during his first NFL Draft as Saints head coach

The NFL Draft is one of the largest offseason spectacles in all of sports. For good reason, the unpredictable nature and domino-effect sort of dynamic truly create a unique experience for NFL fans. For the New Orleans Saints, the 2025 NFL Draft is vital for their future.  An NFC East foe could completely change New […]

Adam Holt — NFL News Writer
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The NFL Draft is one of the largest offseason spectacles in all of sports. For good reason, the unpredictable nature and domino-effect sort of dynamic truly create a unique experience for NFL fans. For the New Orleans Saints, the 2025 NFL Draft is vital for their future. 

An NFC East foe could completely change New Orleans' plan early in round one. The Saints may be waiting on pins and needles – to see how their future at quarterback may unfold. 

Will the Giants pick Shedeur Sanders or not?

This has to be the biggest mystery of the NFL Draft and it’s truly hard to know at this point. The Giants did hold a private workout for Sanders last Thursday and sent a large committee for his Pro Day in Boulder, Colorado a couple of weeks ago. But is it anything more than due diligence? Is it an effort to drive up trade value for their pick? 

On the one hand, the No. 3 overall pick might be too rich for a quarterback like Sanders that doesn’t have the elite traits to develop that are becoming increasingly common in the first round. On the other hand, he’s accurate and a better OL situation could turn him into a legit NFL starter if he fixes some pocket-presence issue. 

The closer we get to the Draft, the more I think the Giants might opt for Abdul Carter. Think of John Mara’s words in January following his news of retaining HC Brian Daboll and GM Joe Schoen: "It better not take too long, because I've just about run out of patience.” 

What gives the Giants the best chance to win today? I don’t think it’s Sanders, who likely wouldn’t start over Russell Wilson in Week 1 at least. But put Carter and Brian Burns together, and suddenly New York can have a defense to bet on while Malik Nabers takes a second-year jump on offense. That would certainly be improvement. 

Are the Saints picking Sanders if he falls?

At the ninth overall pick, it remains unknown if New Orleans will take Sanders or another QB prospect there. ESPN analysts Field Yates and Matt Miller aren't buying Sanders to the Saints as of now. 

Ultimately, for New Orleans to take a quarterback that high, the decision-makers have to be in love with that prospect. I have not gotten the sense that the Saints are there with Sanders. But it's important to remember very few parties are motivated to reveal their intentions before the draft, which makes it difficult to know what's true. It's smokescreen season. I'll sell this … for now. — Yates

Reaching for a passer at No. 9 won't change their outlook. This is the same front office that drafted Spencer Rattler in the fifth round last year, and a source told me that they still like his ability and upside a lot. New coach Kellen Moore could change that dynamic, but this isn't a team that's a quarterback away, from a team-building standpoint. — Miller

Adam Schefter doubled down on that concept recently. He doesn't think New Orleans will take Sanders with the ninth pick, but of course, these things change on a daily basis. 

The Saints remain the betting favorites to pick Sanders as of now. Kellen Moore may receive the opportunity to pick Sanders – if the Giants pass – but it is certainly not set in stone as we approach night one.  

If Moore doesn't take Sanders, he will have to look elsewhere to find another QB option during this draft. New Orleans has done a lot of homework on the class, and you cannot imagine they go into next season with Rattler as their sole starting option – with Derek Carr potentially out of the fold. 

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