What Areas Do the Saints Still Need to Address After the Draft
With the 2025 NFL Draft officially in the books, the New Orleans Saints have taken significant steps to retool their roster for the upcoming season. While the draft brought in a wave of young talent, several key areas of concern still linger as the team looks to solidify its depth and address lingering weaknesses. From questions along the offensive line to uncertainty in the secondary, the Saints still have work to do before training camp kicks off. Free agency, trade opportunities, and even late roster cuts could provide avenues for further improvement. In this article, we'll break down the positions that remain areas of need and explore the best ways New Orleans can continue to strengthen its roster heading into the 2025 season. Let’s take a look at some of the key positions they should still address.
Receiver
One of the biggest surprises coming out of the 2025 NFL Draft for the Saints was that they didn’t select a single wide receiver with any of their nine picks. Given the importance of surrounding new QB Tyler Shough with as many weapons as possible, many expected New Orleans to target a pass catcher at some point during the weekend. General manager Mickey Loomis even admitted after the draft that they intended to draft a wideout, but the board simply didn’t fall the right way. While wide receiver isn’t their most pressing need thanks to the presence of players like Chris Olave and Rashid Shaheed, it’s still an area where the Saints could use more depth, particularly someone with size and physicality to complement the speed, quickness, and technical route running already on the roster. Right now, they lack that big-bodied receiver who can win contested catches and be a reliable red-zone threat. Fortunately, there are still several avenues they can explore, whether it’s combing through the undrafted free agent market, signing a veteran like Keenan Allen, or even pursuing a trade for a player who fits that mold. One way or another, it feels like the Saints aren’t quite finished building out their receiver room for 2025.
Linebacker/Pass Rusher
Another position the Saints could still look to bolster is linebacker, particularly in terms of depth and long-term stability. They did add Oklahoma’s Danny Stutsman in the fourth round, a player with great instincts and toughness, but given Demario Davis’s age and Pete Werner’s struggles with inconsistency and injuries, it wouldn’t hurt to add another option or two to the mix. On top of that, with the shift to new defensive coordinator Brandon Staley’s 3-4 scheme, the Saints have an even bigger need for athletic pass rushers off the edge. They didn’t address that during the draft, leaving the roster thin when it comes to explosive outside linebackers or defensive ends who can consistently create pressure. Whether through a late free agent signing, a trade, or the development of players already on the roster, it’s clear that New Orleans needs to find a few more dynamic athletes to unlock Staley’s vision for the defense fully.
Overall, while the Saints made several vital additions during the 2025 NFL Draft, there’s still work to be done if they want to round out the roster and make a serious push this season. Adding depth at wide receiver, bolstering the linebacker corps, and finding more athletic pass rushers to fit Brandon Staley’s new defensive scheme should remain priorities in the coming months. Whether it’s through free agency, trades, or finding hidden gems among undrafted rookies, the opportunities are still out there to strengthen the team. With a few smart moves, the Saints can put themselves in a much better position to compete at a high level and maximize the talent they’ve already assembled. The foundation is solid, now it’s just about finishing the job.
