I had Google Gemini create a mock for the Saints.

I had Google Gemini create a mock for the Saints.

I did the same think with grok

Creating a "perfect" New Orleans Saints mock draft for the 2025 NFL Draft depends on the team's current needs, draft position, and available talent as of March 26, 2025. The Saints are in a transitional phase with a new head coach, Kellen Moore, and significant salary cap challenges, limiting their free agency flexibility. They need to address key positions like edge rusher, offensive line, wide receiver, and potentially quarterback, while building a foundation for the future. Based on current roster gaps, expert analyses, and draft projections, here’s a 7-round mock draft tailored to maximize immediate impact and long-term potential. I’ll assume the Saints hold the No. 9 overall pick, as projected in many mocks, and include realistic additional picks based on their current draft capital and past trades (e.g., extra picks from the Marshon Lattimore trade).

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### New Orleans Saints 2025 Mock Draft

#### Round 1, Pick 9: Tetairoa McMillan, WR, Arizona
- **Why:** The Saints offense needs a dynamic playmaker to complement Chris Olave and open up Kellen Moore’s playbook. Derek Carr or a future QB would benefit from a high-upside target. McMillan, at 6’5” and 212 lbs, is a big-bodied receiver with elite contested-catch ability and surprising agility. Experts like Canal Street Chronicles’ Yaccarino call him “the best pure receiver in the draft,” capable of being a true WR1. With Michael Thomas gone and the receiver room thin beyond Olave, McMillan fills a glaring need and provides a red-zone threat.
- **Fit:** His versatility to play outside or in the slot aligns with Moore’s creative offensive schemes, giving the Saints a cornerstone piece.

#### Round 2, Pick 40: Nic Scourton, EDGE, Texas A&M
- **Why:** The Saints’ pass rush is aging and depleted. Cameron Jordan is 36, Chase Young is a free agent, and Payton Turner hasn’t panned out. Scourton offers a high-ceiling replacement with power and athleticism. His Texas A&M tape shows a knack for bull-rushing linemen, and his 2024 stats (e.g., pressures and sacks) make him a Day 2 steal. FanSided mocks highlight his “real power at the point of attack,” ideal for replacing Jordan’s presence.
- **Fit:** Scourton can start early, providing a two-way edge defender to bolster a defense that ranks near the bottom in total yards allowed.

#### Round 3, Pick 71: Mason Taylor, TE, LSU
- **Why:** The tight end position is a weak spot with Juwan Johnson’s free agency looming and Foster Moreau’s contract expiring soon. Taylor, a local LSU product, brings size (6’5”, 255 lbs) and reliable hands, making him a safety blanket for the QB. FanSided notes his rise after a strong combine, projecting him as a “power slot option.” He’s not elite yet but has starter potential.
- **Fit:** Moore’s offense thrives with versatile tight ends, and Taylor’s blocking and receiving skills add balance to the attack.

#### Round 3, Pick 90 (via trade, e.g., Lattimore deal): Will Campbell, OT, LSU
- **Why:** The offensive line needs reinforcement, especially at tackle, where Trevor Penning has struggled (PFF grade 61.6) and Ryan Ramczyk’s health is uncertain. Campbell, another LSU star, offers agility and balance despite shorter arms (32⅝ inches). Field Yates praises his “best footwork of any offensive lineman in the class,” projecting him as a potential guard or tackle. He’s a high-value pick here.
- **Fit:** Campbell could compete at right tackle or slide inside, protecting Carr and boosting the run game for Alvin Kamara.

#### Round 5, Pick 150: Darius Alexander, DT, Toledo
- **Why:** The Saints’ defensive line lacks depth beyond the starters, and Alexander brings quickness and pass-rush upside (77.8 PFF pass-rush grade in 2024). He’s undersized (288 lbs) but fits as a rotational piece on passing downs, addressing a need PFF mocks emphasize.
- **Fit:** Paired with an edge like Scourton, Alexander adds interior pressure, helping a defense that’s been gashed this season.

#### Round 6, Pick 175: Anthony Belton, OL, NC State
- **Why:** Depth along the offensive line is critical, and Belton’s versatility (guard or tackle) makes him a smart late-round pick. Canal Street Chronicles suggests doubling up on linemen given Penning’s inconsistency and future needs. Belton’s a developmental prospect with solid pass protection skills.
- **Fit:** He provides insurance and could grow into a swing lineman role under Moore’s staff.

#### Round 7, Pick 239: Tyler Shough, QB, Louisville
- **Why:** With Derek Carr’s future uncertain and Spencer Rattler unproven, a late-round flier on a QB makes sense. Shough, a former Oregon and Texas Tech standout, has upside as a developmental arm. PFF mocks note his potential to become a starter with coaching, and at this stage, it’s a low-risk gamble.
- **Fit:** Shough competes with Rattler for the backup role, giving Moore options if Carr falters or departs in 2026.

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### Draft Summary
- **Key Needs Addressed:** WR (McMillan), EDGE (Scourton), TE (Taylor), OT (Campbell), DT (Alexander), OL depth (Belton), QB depth (Shough).
- **Strategy:** This draft balances immediate starters (McMillan, Scourton, Campbell) with high-upside depth (Taylor, Alexander, Shough). It prioritizes the trenches and offensive weapons, critical for Moore’s vision, while leveraging local LSU talent for fan appeal and scheme familiarity.
- **Impact:** McMillan and Scourton could be Day 1 contributors, Campbell stabilizes the line, and Taylor adds a reliable target. The late picks build a foundation for a roster in transition.

This mock assumes no trades, but the Saints could move down from No. 9 to accumulate more picks if top QBs or edges are off the board. Given their cap constraints, hitting on these selections is essential to climb back atop the NFC South.