The New Orleans Saints kicked off the 2025 NFL Draft by selecting Texas offensive tackle Kelvin Banks with their first-round pick. The team now has a deeper roster, but they still need to address several pressing needs.
Banks’ selection might have alleviated some concerns about the Saints’ offense, particularly on the right side of the line. However, there are still significant gaps to fill, especially in the secondary and at quarterback. While some expected the Saints to target a quarterback early in the draft, they opted not to do so in the first round.
In rounds 2 and 3, the Saints have the opportunity to address these needs. The team owns picks 40th overall and 71st overall in the second round, with two additional picks at 93rd overall. They will likely target a quarterback or a running back in this range. Quarterbacks Shedeur Sanders, Jalen Milroe, and Tyler Shough are among those considered top prospects.
At wide receiver, the Saints have a talented trio of Chris Olave, Rashid Shaheed, and Brandin Cooks, but they lack a big-bodied pass catcher to work the intermediate zones of defenses. Tre Harris, Jayden Higgins, and Elic Ayomanor could fill this gap.
The team’s tight end position is another area in need of improvement. Re-signing Juwan Johnson has reduced the demand for a playmaking tight end, but a top-tier talent would be beneficial to the offense.
Guard play remains a concern, particularly after signing Dillon Radunz. New Orleans will likely look to address this need through the draft.
As the Saints continue their search for upgrades, they face stiff competition from other teams that also have pressing needs in these areas. With several talented prospects remaining in rounds 2 and 3, the Saints will be well-advised to make strategic selections to strengthen their roster.
Source: https://sports.yahoo.com/article/top-offensive-players-still-board-204443299.html