REPORT: Saints exploring trade back possibilities
04/24/2025
By Ross Jackson
It’s been nearly two decades since the New Orleans Saints have traded back in the NFL Draft. Ahead of 2025’s selection process, the annual trade down rumor mill is spinning again.
Per FOX Sports NFL Insider Jordan Schultz, the Saints have “made calls” about moving back in this year’s draft.
The #Saints have made calls about potentially sliding back slightly from No. 9 to acquire additional draft capital, with the leaguewide belief being they would then use those extra picks to trade back into the late first round to target a quarterback, sources tell @NFLonFOX.
New… pic.twitter.com/p7WHGA31ka
— Jordan Schultz (@Schultz_Report) April 24, 2025
This is a typical draft day report about New Orleans, who hasn’t traded back since 2007. However, with the type of draft class that awaits them, this year feels like there really could be some temptation to move back a few spots.
This Year’s Draft Grades Could Be An Influence
Several league sources have confirmed with LouisianaSports.Net that this year’s draft class has very similar grades for players following the top five prospects (six for some) and those that could still be on the board in the middle of day two. With that, a slight move back could allow a team like New Orleans to gather additional draft capital and still get a player that they really like, so long as the team is not fixated on one specific prospect.
In situations wherein a can’t-miss prospect is on the board, teams will typically elect to take that player while they can: a sensible decision.
But if there is a cloud of prospects available, New Orleans may be able to afford a small move back in the interest of gaining assets that, in true Saints’ fashion, could be used to move up later.
Saints Not Against The Idea
Despite the near two-decade drought of trading back, Saints general manager Mickey Loomis said during his pre-draft press conference that he’s not particularly opposed to the idea.
“I’ve never been against trading back,” he said. “It just appears that way.”
There are many scenarios that could make sense for New Orleans. If the Indianapolis Colts feel the need to move up for a quarterback or offensive playmaker, they become an option. The Dallas Cowboys could be enticed if the unlikely scenario of an Ashton Jeanty slide takes place, leaving the Boise State running back available at No. 9. But two other targets may make the most sense.
Miami Dolphins Leap For Offensive Line
While the Dolphins would be perfectly content sitting at No. 13 and taking Texas defensive back Jahdae Barron, if an offensive lineman they deem a must is available at No. 9, a phone call between the Dolphins and Saints would make a lot of sense.
A move like this would potentially allow New Orleans to stay in range of a cluster of similarly graded players while gaining some additional mid-round picks for later use.
Denver Broncos Trade Up For Jeanty
Many reports have the Broncos clamouring to get up for Jeanty early in the draft. The belief is that if a team really wants the Heisman trophy runner-up, they’ll have to get ahead of the Jacksonville Jaguars at No. 5 overall.
How far up do you think the Bears would have to trade to get Jeanty or is there a good chance he falls to 10?
— Rob (@orajestad9) April 23, 2025
If this isn’t just another Sean Payton smokescreen and the interest in the running back is real, he could look to help broker a deal with his old team.
This would take a lot more draft capital to move the needle for New Orleans, who could be perfectly happy taking Jeanty themselves. Not only would the Saints be passing on one of this year’s rare blue-chip talents, they’d be passing on an entire grouping of players that could go throughout the teens by dropping from inside the top-10 to No. 20. That’s less than ideal unless the trade haul makes it worth it for them.