The New Orleans Saints are sitting pretty with the No. 9 pick in the upcoming NFL Draft, but the decision-making process ahead could go in multiple directions.
While there are several positions the team could target, quarterback is still very much a possibility – despite Derek Carr being the starter for the upcoming season.
“The Saints do a long-term solution,” NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport said. “Say whatever you want about Derek Carr, not someone that’s going to be the Saints quarterback for the next 10 years. We thought Derek Carr wasn’t going to be the quarterback this year.”
Rapoport clarified that while the Saints have a veteran starter in Carr for 2025, they are also in a prime position to think about the future.
“They don’t need a quarterback, they have one for this year. But they are in a position where they can take one. They have done all the quarterback homework, they’ve been a heavy presence at Pro Days, they’ve been a heavy presence at quarterback workouts, they’ve done all the background and homework.”
It’s clear that the Saints are keeping their options open. But the burning question remains: if they do select a quarterback, when and who could that be?
With two valuable picks in the first two rounds – the No. 9 and No. 40 selections – the Saints have the flexibility to either draft a quarterback early on Day 1 or explore the possibility of trading up to grab a signal-caller.
“If there is a quarterback there that they like in the top 10, they for sure could take one,” Rapoport added. “Would not be surprised if they traded back in the first round to get a third or fourth quarterback.
“The Saints don’t need one, but for sure, they are a team that could end up taking a quarterback in late April.”
Potential quarterback prospects within that range include Ole Miss’ Jaxson Dart and Texas’ Quinn Ewers – two college superstars who could benefit from time behind a seasoned veteran like Carr.
Both have shown promising skills but could require a few years of development before stepping into a starting role at the NFL level.
Despite Carr’s role as the established starter, the future remains uncertain. With Spencer Rattler also on the roster, the Saints could soon find themselves with a surplus of quarterbacks if they do select one in the draft.
There are also rumblings that Carr could potentially be traded in the near future – potentially around draft time.
What are your thoughts on the interesting situation involving Carr? … Would the Saints be best off trading him???
