Todd McShay Says Jaxson Dart is High on Saints' Draft Board Amid Giants, Browns Rumors

If the New Orleans Saints are going to come out of the 2025 NFL draft with a quarterback, all signs are pointing to it being Jaxson Dart over Shedeur Sanders.

In the latest version of The McShay Report, NFL draft insider Todd McShay noted Dart is "high" on the Saints' list of draft prospects.

McShay wrote that based on conversations he has had recently, New Orleans' interest in Dart is stronger than previously believed. It's unclear if this means he will be in play for them at No. 9 overall.

If the Saints were to pass on Dart with their first pick, there could be a fight among several teams to take the Ole Miss quarterback.

Per SNY's Connor Hughes, New York Giants head coach Brian Daboll is "high" on Dart. ESPN's Dan Graziano cited the Cleveland Browns as a team that could select Dart with the first pick of the second round.

Given how much smoke seems to be around Dart at this point, these teams might be inclined to trade back into the first round to select him.

B/R's NFL scouting department is projecting the Saints to make a deal with the Pittsburgh Steelers for the 21st pick and select Dart. The trade package would have New Orleans send its second-rounder (No. 40), one of its third-round picks (No. 93) and a 2026 second-rounder to Pittsburgh.

That's a steep price to pay for a team that has several roster holes to fill, but it would be perfectly in keeping with the Saints' approach in the draft. General manager Mickey Loomis has traded up in the first round four times since 2017.

If the Saints and new head coach Kellen Moore believe Dart can be the long-term answer at quarterback, a trade up into the first round would be a small price to pay if he works out.

It would just be a big swing for a franchise that hasn't really made hard contact in a long time and is coming off a 5-12 record in 2024.