The New Orleans Saints might not have landed a franchise quarterback in the 2025 NFL Draft - at least not in the traditional sense - but looking back, they may have snagged more foundational pieces than they’re getting credit for. And if ESPN’s recent 2025 NFL Draft re-do is any indication, the league is rethinking some of its early evaluations - especially when it comes to quarterback Tyler Shough.
Originally a second-round pick, Shough soared to the No. 2 overall slot in ESPN’s re-draft, leapfrogging several of his peers, including Jaxson Dart, who went ahead of him last April. In hindsight, that order might not hold up.
Shough’s poise in the pocket, his ability to command the offense under less-than-ideal conditions, and the way he helped steady a Saints team in transition - all of it turned heads. The fact that he played well enough to help keep the coaching staff intact speaks volumes about how much he exceeded expectations.
For the Cleveland Browns, who swung and missed on both Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders, Shough would’ve been a welcome reset. ESPN’s Browns beat writer made the case for taking Shough second overall, acknowledging the small sample size (just nine starts), but highlighting how he thrived in a tough environment in New Orleans - something that can’t be overlooked when projecting success at the next level.
As for the Saints, their original first-round pick - left tackle Kelvin Banks Jr. - stayed right where he was at No. 9 overall. And that’s not a consolation prize.
With Shough off the board in this alternate draft universe, sticking with Banks makes a lot of sense. He’s a cornerstone piece, a long-term protector for whoever ends up under center in 2026.
Given the Saints' likelihood of targeting a quarterback in this year’s draft, having a foundational left tackle already in place is a significant win.
But the real shake-up came in Round 2. With Shough long gone and the Saints back on the clock at No. 40, they pivoted to a different kind of offensive weapon - running back Cam Skattebo. And that pick might’ve aged just as well.
Skattebo brought energy, vision, and a bruising style that would’ve fit nicely in Kellen Moore’s offense - especially as the season wore on and the Saints’ playmaker cupboard started looking a little bare. With Alvin Kamara now 30 and having missed the end of the last two seasons due to injury, the need for fresh legs in the backfield is more urgent than ever.
Skattebo, who looked like a legit Offensive Rookie of the Year candidate before suffering an ankle injury, would’ve added some serious juice to the Saints’ rotation. Even if New Orleans addresses the position in free agency or the 2026 draft, a player like Skattebo would’ve been a major boost.
And then there’s Quincy Riley - a fourth-round pick who climbed all the way into the back end of Round 2 in the re-draft, landing at No. 62 overall to the Buffalo Bills. At 5-foot-11, 195 pounds, Riley fits the mold of what Buffalo has been leaning toward at corner: smaller, quicker, versatile defensive backs who can hold up in space. He finished his rookie season with eight passes defensed - second-most among all rookies - and showed enough on tape to suggest he’s just scratching the surface.
For the Saints, Riley’s development could become even more critical if veteran Alontae Taylor leaves in free agency. Riley’s rookie year had its ups and downs, but the positives outweighed the negatives, and it’s clear other teams around the league saw enough to believe he’d be worth a Day 2 pick.
Bottom line: New Orleans may not have landed a quarterback early in last year’s draft, but they built a strong foundation - and in a league where roster-building is a long game, that counts. With the 2026 draft on the horizon, the Saints are in a position to build on that progress. But as every GM knows, hitting on back-to-back drafts is easier said than done.