Eli Manning #10 of the New York Giants and Drew Brees #9 of the New Orleans Saints talk after the game on September 30,2018 (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
New Orleans Saints great Drew Brees isn't sure how the 2025 NFL draft is going to pan out, but it wouldn't surprise him if an elite prospect unexpectedly dropped.
Shedeur Sanders — along with Cam Ward — is regarded as the top quarterback prospect in the draft. The top two teams that are selecting, the Tennessee Titans and Cleveland Browns, are quarterback-needy teams, with at least one of them likely to select one of the two quarterbacks.
While many mock drafts see both quarterbacks landing either in the first two picks or the first several picks, Brees does see a scenario where a top-ranked prospect — even Sanders — could drop to the Saints at No. 9.
“You're always, you're always thinking wherever you're drafting, No. 1, what are the needs? But number two, who is the best player available? Inevitably, you see in every draft where all of a sudden a guy drops further than you expect,” said Brees in a one-on-one interview with RG when asked about the possibility of Sanders dropping lower than expected.
The idea was initially brought up by Brees' teammate, Cameron Jordan, at the NFL Honors Red Carpet last week leading into Super Bowl LIX. Jordan joked at the idea that Sanders could drop to No. 9 to his Saints with neither Shedeur or Deion Sanders biting at the idea.
The Saints still have Pro Bowl quarterback Derek Carr under contract, but it's clear they need to start preparing for a future franchise quarterback in the ensuing seasons. New head coach Kellen Moore was non-committal to Carr as the starting quarterback for 2025 in his introductory press conference. Carr previously stated he would not take a pay cut to remain in New Orleans.
Brees says that he believes the Saints would have drafted eventual three-time Super Bowl champion QB Patrick Mahomes had he dropped down to No. 11 in the 2017 NFL Draft. Former Saints head coach Sean Payton has gone on record raving about Mahomes in the pre-draft process.
“When you have your opportunity to get who you might perceive as your guy, then you got to take him, right? Sean Payton loved Patrick Mahomes back in 2017 when he was coming out,” said Brees. “I think had Mahomes dropped to No. 11, I think Sean Payton would have taken him.”
“The Chiefs jumped, traded with Buffalo, of all teams, and jumped to No. 10 and drafted him. Then we took Marshawn Lattimore with pick No. 11. Pretty good, but nonetheless, when a QB is available, and you think he could be your guy — I don't know the way the Saints feel about Shadeur, I think he's a heck of a football player,” said Brees. With having Deion as his coach and a mentor father his whole career, you feel like he's kind of equipped, poised, ready to take on that responsibility to step in and be an immediate impact player.”
The idea of Sanders dropping isn't impossible. It's happened to multiple quarterbacks over the years, with Will Levis — expected to be a possible top overall pick — dropping all the way out of the first round. Aaron Rodgers infamously dropped down towards the bottom of the first round after being in contention for the top pick with Alex Smith.
However, the Saints may have to move up just slightly to have a true chance at Sanders. Teams such as the New York Giants, Las Vegas Raiders and New York Jets all pick ahead of them, and they're all in dire need of a franchise quarterback.
“These rookie quarterbacks are coming in more and more equipped based on their experiences in college and how they've been developed,” said Brees. “We'll see.”
Drew Brees on Eli Manning Missing Pro Football Hall of Fame
There were only four players elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame this year, the lowest total since 2005. While Antonio Gates, Jared Allen, Eric Allen and Sterling Sharpe can now proudly call themselves Hall of Famers, there was a notable inclusion in New York Giants great Eli Manning.
Most people expected the two-time Super Bowl champion quarterback to make it on his first year of the ballot, especially considering he defeated the best quarterback of all time, Tom Brady, in the Super Bowl twice. However, he'll have to wait at least a year before his name is called on the Hall of Fame ballot.
“There are so many great players on that list that didn't make it,” said Brees.
“I was surprised there were only four guys. It feels like over the years it's been at least five or six. When I look at that list, there are so many guys that deserve to be Hall of Famers. I think it's only a matter of time before all these guys are.”
Brees makes sure to give props to his former San Diego Chargers teammate, Antonio Gates, who he played with between 2003 and 2005. Gates ended his career with a record 116 touchdown catches for a tight end, and was a five-time All-Pro selection and eight-time Pro Bowler during his career.
The 46-year-old former quarterback — he'll also be eligible for the Pro Football Hall of Fame next year — says all of these guys will eventually get in, believing Manning will be in the Pro Football Hall of Fame sooner than later.
Brees says even though he didn't get a chance to congratulate Gates directly after the announcement at “NFL Honors,” he's “so happy” for his former tight end. Gates never played college football and was actually a college basketball starter at Kent State. However, he was considered undersized to play pro basketball and instead made the transition to pro football.
“ I'm so happy for him, I'm so excited for him,” says Brees of Gates' induction. “I remember when he first came to the league. He comes into the league as a tight end, but hadn't played in four years, put his hand in the dirt, like, this was foreign to him, right? But you just felt like this guy's got something.
“Sure enough, midway through the season, all of a sudden we have some injuries, and he's forced to play, and you're like, 'Whoa, I think we got something.' I think it was the right decision on his part,” said Brees.
DJ Siddiqi
