The New Orleans Saints have become a cautionary tale for how not to run an NFL franchise. They’ve been stuck in mediocrity for years and are facing a serious financial crunch, yet continue to delay addressing their long-term issues.
In 2025, they once again pushed problems into the future by restructuring quarterback Derek Carr’s contract—a move that keeps them tied to a player who’s largely underwhelmed. Rather than beginning the process of moving on from Carr’s burdensome deal, they doubled down.
Still, the Saints need to seriously consider finding a future franchise quarterback, which Carr clearly isn’t.
CBS Sports’ Tom Fornelli floated the idea of the Saints trading back into the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft by striking a deal with division rival Tampa Bay to select Colorado QB Shedeur Sanders.
A trade within the NFC South would be unusual, but if the Buccaneers don’t view Sanders as a top prospect and think the Saints are making a misstep, they might be open to it.
Sanders brings a strong skill set to the table—most notably, his precise pocket passing and the athleticism to escape pressure and make plays on the run.
Whether he’ll be ready to start as a rookie is uncertain, but with Carr still on the roster, the Saints could afford to bring Sanders along slowly with an eye toward 2026 as his breakout year.
Leave a Reply