Saints' No. 9 pick rumored to be last possible landing spot for NFL draft quarterback

In the wake of the shoulder injury to Derek Carr, the New Orleans Saints have been one of the most talked about teams when it comes to taking a quarterback in the first round of the 2025 NFL draft.

The two prospects most linked to New Orleans with the No. 9 pick are Colorado's Shedeur Sanders and Ole Miss' Jaxson Dart. Now, a rumor suggests that the latter won't make it past the Saints at No. 9.

The news comes from CBS Sports' Aditi Kinkhabwala, who is reporting that Dart is not expected to land past New Orleans when they're first on the clock on Thursday evening.

"What I'm being told is that Jaxson Dart is not going to fall beyond that No. 9 pick and the Saints," Kinkhabwala reported.

"What I'm being told is that Jaxson Dart is not going to fall beyond that No. 9 pick and the Saints."@AKinkhabwala with the latest buzz from the NFL Draft. pic.twitter.com/r4OR2xzNMD

Dart has seen quite the rise up boards over the past few months. Once considered a Day 2 pick, at best, the Ole Miss product has now worked his way up to top-10 consideration, which was once unthinkable.

The Saints are in a rough spot at quarterback right now. Carr's injury could lead to surgery and him missing time in 2025, which would leave the team with unproven options like Spencer Rattler and Jake Haener. Both players saw time last season, but neither one showed any promise.

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"He does have an issue with his shoulder," Saints general manager Mickey Loomis said of Carr. "We're hoping to get some resolution and clarity on that in the near future, and when we do, I'll report back to you."

Even if Carr is good to go for the 2025 campaign, the Saints still need a long-term solution at the position, as the veteran is only under contract through 2026 and could be on the chopping block next year.

Taking Dart at No. 9 overall might be seen as a reach, but if the Saints feel strongly about him, they should make the pick.