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

[ELLIASJWILLIAMS]

If Jeanty or Graham isn't their at 9, I'd say trade back into the Teens and take a look at Omarion Hampton or Tyler Warren. I was watching Cam Newton's podcast and he's like, want to know a young QB's best friends? OL, TE, and a RB. He said foget the WR's, make sure you have a running game to take pressure off him, good blocking and a security blanket in the form of a big TE.

I'd list RB ahead only because Johnson stayed healthy all season and came on late w/ Rattler at QB. Considering the FA class for TE's is weak, you'd probably resign him and still draft a TE since you were down 2 (Taysom/Moreau) at the end of the season, but I'd put RB as my #1 upgrade for the offseason. Kamara and Miller ended season injured. Next year, for different reasons, I'd consider a 17 game season from either as Lagniappe and so drafting a RB between rounds 1-3 would be high on my list.

Jeanty would be nice at 9. Especially if you get somone like McCarthy who's proven he'll run the ball (Eddie Lacy) if he's comfortable w/ knowing the runner will average 4ypc>

 

[TruSaint]

Man I really really like Pearce, he might be only 245 but he looks pretty stout vs the run

 

[ELLIASJWILLIAMS]

Man I really really like Pearce, he might be only 245 but he looks pretty stout vs the run

I don't think the weight is as big of a factor as it used to be int he past. If he's 6'6 265-270 perfect, you'll feel better about him against the run, but even if he's only 245, it doesn't matter. 60% of snaps come in Nickel, he'll be flexed, or running a route most times anway. Rememeber years back, the Giants weren't sure what to do w/ Evan Engram. They drafted him back in 2017. The NFL hadn't shifted to what it is now, currently and so he was seen as an undersized weapon.

He spent all 5 years w/ the Giants but had his 1st and 2nd best season on his 2nd team in Jacksonville. Where their offense was more inovative and required him to play inline less.

 

[TruSaint]

I don't think the weight is as big of a factor as it used to be int he past. If he's 6'6 265-270 perfect, you'll feel better about him against the run, but even if he's only 245, it doesn't matter. 60% of snaps come in Nickel, he'll be flexed, or running a route most times anway. Rememeber years back, the Giants weren't sure what to do w/ Evan Engram. They drafted him back in 2017. The NFL hadn't shifted to what it is now, currently and so he was seen as an undersized weapon.

He spent all 5 years w/ the Giants but had his 1st and 2nd best season on his 2nd team in Jacksonville. Where their offense was more inovative and required him to play inline less.

You talking about Pearce the DE/OLB from Tennesse?

 

[St.Dan]

Reminder here that the free agency frenzy period takes place more than a month before the draft. And so our draft needs might look a little different than now if they address the trenches in free agency. But, right now, the needs list begins on the lines, both sides of the ball.

 

[ELLIASJWILLIAMS]

You talking about Pearce the DE/OLB from Tennesse?

oh my bad, I thought you meant a TE. I'd be looking at edge rushers of all size and considering a scheme switch to get quicker/athletic on the edge. The teams that stop the run the best currently aren't the guys these huge DE's on the edge 6'5 270 lbs etc. It's the teams that have the smaller guys 6'4 255 etc that are playing 3/4 defense that are stopping these zone schemes because they flow easier and have more athleticism on the field.

 

[AARPSaint]

4-3 or 3-4, whatever. The defense needs a radical shakeup. It was dreadful. Presumably, the new DC will determine how to proceed.

 

[Archie's Boyz]

Trade Back for more picks

Never ... going ... to ... happen.

As much as we all wish, Loomis, if he is still the GM, will never do this.

 

[TruSaint]

oh my bad, I thought you meant a TE. I'd be looking at edge rushers of all size and considering a scheme switch to get quicker/athletic on the edge. The teams that stop the run the best currently aren't the guys these huge DE's on the edge 6'5 270 lbs etc. It's the teams that have the smaller guys 6'4 255 etc that are playing 3/4 defense that are stopping these zone schemes because they flow easier and have more athleticism on the field.

Agreed, Bresee could swap to end and Pearce would be a perfect 3-4 OLB in the Nolan Smith mold but better.

 

[duckjr78]

4-3 or 3-4, whatever. The defense needs a radical shakeup. It was dreadful. Presumably, the new DC will determine how to proceed.

I’d really like to see the team start finding good, but undervalued players who don’t fit common archetypes. Moneyball basically. Zig while everyone is zagging. “It’s a copycat league” right? Let’s be the team everyone is copycatting.

Like you said, 4-3 or 3-4 doesn’t matter. Just fit the players and the scheme together.

 

[St. Widge]

Never ... going ... to ... happen.

As much as we all wish, Loomis, if he is still the GM, will never do this.

It would have been a dumb thing to do, but Loomis had a deal in place with the Rams last year where the Saints would have traded back with the Rams if Bowers was on the board when the Saints picks. So, while it's not likely, it is possible.

 

[WhoDat?DrewDat]

You mean the guy who had 17 rushing yards against the Ravens? That guy?

For people who don't think workhorse backs matter:

Travis Henry: 26 rushes for 186 yards

James Cook: 23 rushes for 120 yards

Joe Mixon: 25 rushes for 106 yards

Saquon Barkley: 25 rushes for 119 yards

Josh Jacobs: 18 rushes for 81 yards

From this weekend's playoff games.

None of these guys lead their team to success they are successful because of their team.

King Henry: Took the titans nowhere.
James Cook: MVP candidate is his QB
Joe Mixon: Bengals had zero issues replacing him with a 5th round RB.
Barkey: Lead the Giants absolutely nowhere.
Josh Jacob's: Lead the Raiders absolutely nowhere.

These guys are all products of their teams that have been built already then added them. We are not in that boat.

 

[WhoDat?DrewDat]

Ok - So you are hung up on semantics, and are unable to accept a difference of opinion on a player.... I'm with you now... I get that.... I too often present my opinions and views as matter of fact... Of course... I am usually way more right than wrong... which is why I reserved a spot in this thread for my Told Ya So dance as it regards Warren. (one of my favorite things to do here over the last 20 years - So I am quite good at it)

Do you hear yourself?

I'm getting 2nd hand embarrassment from your attitude dude.

 

[kennydfresh]

If Jeanty or Graham isn't their at 9, I'd say trade back into the Teens and take a look at Omarion Hampton or Tyler Warren. I
Kamara and Miller ended season injured. Next year, for different reasons, I'd consider a 17 game season from either as Lagniappe and so drafting a RB between rounds 1-3 would be high on my list.

I'm not a fan of Jeanty at 9 as we already have a STARTING RB in Kamara and you can get an equally talented RB in Cam Skattebo later. We are in agreeance with Tyler Warren, we need to address the TE spot to give Carr another weapon.

I also think the Saints should really entertain trading down and getting an extra 2nd rounder and trading 1 of their 4th rounders for 2 5ths. They have alot of holes they need to fill between this draft and the next.