With Derek Kerr’s availability now at issue, the New Orleans saints suddenly became a favorite of the quarterback business at the start of the 2025 NFL Draft. That’s unless their NFC South rivals stop them. The Carolina Panthers are open to trading from the 8th overall pick, with New Orleans tabping Colorado quarterback Shedale Sanders’ most likely landing spot.
Morgan knows that the Panthers’ first round selection has been a little more intrigued by the quarterback Needy team. He emphasized that the team would call about moving, saying, “If anyone thinks of it, I’ll wait.”
“We’re definitely open to doing business and getting more picks. I think we’re open to all possibilities,” he said at a press conference Tuesday.
Morgan said he hopes his team will reach out for his No. 8 selection as the draft approaches.
“I haven’t thought about it yet,” Morgan said. “It’s still a little early, but maybe go down the line. Hope it a little more. Things are quiet right now.”
The two events may not be directly related, but the potential ripple effects are clear. The Saint currently holds the No. 9 pick in the first round. This means that the rival Panthers, who previously chose one spot, can offer other teams the opportunity to bounce New Orleans off the prospects of Sanders and another coveted quarterback. If quarterbacks are top priority, Carolina’s openness to moving the No. 8 pick could also encourage the saints to consider their move up the board.
Of course, all of these things become irrelevant. Of course, if Ole Miss Jackson Dirt, another quarterback on Sanders or Saint’s Radar, was filmed much earlier in the draft. For example, both the Cleveland Browns and the New York Giants have linked Sanders in the pre-draft process, picking second and third place respectively.
In the scenario, Sanders slides slide. The team could swipe the signal from the saint, aiming to trade up with the Panthers. Here are some possibilities:
Cleveland Browns
Do they really go back to the top 10 and really trade after picking second overall? It costs a lot, but they’re free to add at will, so there’s an overall choice of 33rd place in round two. But imagine the reaction in Cleveland, if, for example, the Browns leave day one of the draft with Travis Hunter not just the guy who threw him in college. The arrival of Joe Flacco cannot tell us that it means they are being done in the center.
You probably won’t bring back 37-year-old Matthew Stafford and sign 32-year-old Davante Adams if you’re not everything in the short term. The Rams also know they dance every year at their quarterback, and they’re adding another third round this year as a potential trade-up ammunition. Imagine they could add him to the Sean McVay lineup, someone who knows there’s no need to rush to La Patrick Mahomes with the Kansas City chief.
This is the team that attracted Sanders’ pre-draft interest and chose outside the top 10. The Steelers dedicated one of their top 30 visits to Colorado quarterbacks despite owning the No. 21 selection. What if Aaron Rodgers hasn’t signed a contract yet? Maybe Mike Tomlin and Co. will feel comfortable jumping to ensure they’re the most professional quarterback in their class.
