With the 9th Pick in the 2025 draft, who should the Saints select? (merged)

nakadish said

This is how I look at it. Let's set we had Graham, or Will Johnson, or Carter on this year's team. Would the Saints have won more games? Maybe. It would have at least been more interesting.

Now let's say that the Saints had Tet or Jeanty this year. Would the Saints have won more games? Almost certainly.

It's not just BPA. Its which player helps you win the most given what's there. I could be wrong, but I don't think anyone on defense does that, at least in the short-term, in the first round. After the first round is a different story.

Yes, the defense is old and needs upgrading everywhere. But it's not the total embarrassment that the offense is either.

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A guy like Abdul Carter, or another pass rusher, including a DT that can rush the passer like Graham, can win you games immediately. There were several games that came down to the defense on the field for a final drive. A pass rusher that can get you sacks when it counts will end games and that opportunity was there several times last year and many times in the last few years.

Most games in the NFL come down to the final drive. A guy that can get you sacks in last drives of the game will win you games. Certainly he can win you as many games as a RB, TE, or even a big X. And we do need all those things. So, you just take the best one that is there.

The offense, on the other hand, was actually very good for two weeks before injuries took over.

We need playmakers on offense, but we also need playmakers on defense. I'm fine with taking either at #9.