Unless the New Orleans Saints plan to reinvent the meaning of “generational talent,” head coach Kellen Moore is going to need a quarterback. Possibly sooner than expected.
Moore beat Derek Carr’s Fresno State team by 50 when they shared the field in 2011. Moore was the quarterback at Boise State and threw three touchdowns in the shellacking.
Now he’s a first-time head coach in New Orleans, and must decide whether his former peer has a future as a prized pupil with the Saints.
Carr is reportedly at risk of missing time in 2025 with a shoulder injury. Durability has become a problem for Carr. If he opts for surgery, the outlook for the Saints is blurred until Moore settles on a solution at the position.
If only that was the only challenge ahead for Moore in New Orleans.
–Team needs
Quarterback: With or without Carr, the Saints are nowhere near settled at the position. Spencer Rattler flashed upside but wasn’t drafted by the current coaching staff. As a former QB, Moore can’t resist the chance to get “his guy” in the draft.
Offensive line: A tackle capable of opening the season at guard, or a guard who could play tackle, might be No. 1 on the shopping list for Moore. A fortified front five was critical during his success as Cowboys offensive coordinator and last season with the Super Bowl-champion Eagles. While the Saints have the potential to start five players drafted 53rd or higher, their recent results don’t match their original draft slots.
Pass rusher: Cameron Jordan remains one of the starting defensive ends for the Saints and he entered the NFL one year before Moore signed as an undrafted free agent with the Detroit Lions in 2012. Defensive coordinator Brandon Staley downplayed the base defense — 3-4 or 4-3 — he’ll primarily operate. No matter how they align, the Saints are short on edge defenders.
–Best prospect fits
OL Will Campbell, LSU
QB Jaxson Dart, Ole Miss
LB Jihaad Campbell, Alabama
TE Tyler Warren, Penn State
CB Will Johnson, Michigan
OLB Jalon Walker, Georgia
OL Armand Membou, Missouri
S Malaki Starks, Georgia
OLB Shemar Stewart, Texas A&M
QB Shedeur Sanders, Colorado
OLB Mike Green, Marshall
TE Colston Loveland, Michigan
WR Luther Burden III, Missouri
–2025 draft picks by round
Total picks: 9
By round (pick in round, overall pick)
1: 9, 9
2: 8, 40
3: 7, 71
3: 29, 93 (from Washington Commanders)
4: 10, 112
4: 29, 131 (from Washington Commanders)
6: 8, 184 (from Washington Commanders
7: 32, 248 (from Philadelphia Eagles via Washington Commanders
7: 38, 254 (compensatory selection)
–History lesson
–In the history of the franchise, Archie Manning is the only quarterback the Saints have drafted in the top 74. Manning was selected No. 2 in 1971.
Garrett Grayson (75th overall, 2015) and Danny Wuerffel (99th, 1997) are the only other QBs the team selected in the top 100. This does not include 1981 supplemental draft pick Dave Wilson.
–The Saints have drafted 21 running backs in the top 74, including four in the top five (George Rogers, No. 1, 1981; Reggie Bush, No. 2, 2006; Chuck Muncie, No. 3, 1976; Ricky Williams, No. 5, 1999).
–Field Level Media
