As we approach the 2025 NFL Draft on April 24-26, NewOrleansSaints.com takes a look at the history of their overall pick positions and the players it brought into the league. The Saints have picks in Round 1 (9th overall), Round 2 (40th), Round 3 (71st and 93rd), Round 4 (112th and 131st), Round 6 (184th), and Round 7 (248th and 254th). FULL DRAFT COVERAGE >>

YEAR-BY-YEAR BREAKDOWN OF 9TH PICK IN THE NFL DRAFT:

• 2024 – Rome Odunze:
  Selected from the University of Washington, Odunze finished his rookie season with 54 receptions for 734 yards and three touchdowns, playing in all 17 games for the Chicago Bears, starting 12 of them.

• 2023 – Jalen Carter:
  Drafted out of the University of Georgia, Carter has recorded 45 solo tackles, 10.5 sacks and 4 forced fumbles and earned Pro Bowl and All-Pro Second Team honors in 2024 en route to helping the Eagles to a Super Bowl LIX Championship. In five career playoff games, Carter racked up 11 tackles (four solo) and 2.0 sacks.

• 2022 – Charles Cross:
  Cross started 48 games in his first three seasons after being selected out of Mississippi State University. Cross started in the a playoff game with the Seahawks in 2022.

• 2021 – Patrick Surtain II:
  In four years, Surtain has established himself as one of the premier corners in the NFL, playing in 66 games, 65 starts, and amassing 232 tackles, 11 interceptions and 47 passes defensed, earning three Pro Bowl selections and a first-team All-Pro nod in 2022 and 2024 as well as being named the NFL Defensive Player of the Year in 2024 after being selected out of the University of Alabama. In the Broncos playoff game in 2024, Surtain started and finished with five tackles (four solo).

• 2020 – C.J. Henderson:
  After being drafted out of the University of Florida, Henderson has appeared in 49 career games, 32 starts, with the Jacksonville Jaguars and Carolina Panthers and racked up 172 tackles, 16 passes defensed and three interceptions. He has also spent time with the Houston Texans and Pittsburgh Steelers

• 2019 – Ed Oliver:
  As of the 2024 season, Oliver has recorded 231 solo tackles, 27.0 sacks and eight forced fumbles in 92 games, 83 starts, playing a key role in the Bills' defensive front after being selected out the University of Houston. Oliver has played in 13 playoff games, 11 starts, and contributed 30 tackles (14 solo), 2.0 sacks, a pass defensed and a fumble recovery.

• 2018 – Mike McGlinchey:
  McGlinchey has played in 98 career games over seven seasons with the San Francisco 49ers and Denver Broncos, after he was drafted out of the University of Notre Dame. He also started in seven playoff games with the 49ers and Broncos.

• 2017 – John Ross:
  Known for his then record-breaking 4.22-second 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine, Ross's racked up 63 receptions for 963 yards and 11 touchdowns in 38 career games in six seasons with the Bengals, New York Giants and Philadelphia Eagles after being drafted from the University of Washington. Ross played in one game for the Eagles during their Super Bowl winning 2024 season and spent time on the team's practice squad, but was released in December.

• 2016 – Leonard Floyd:
  Selected by the Chicago Bears out of the University of Georgia, Floyd has recorded 412 tackles and 66.5 sacks in 138 career games in his nine seasons with Chicago, the las Angeles Rams, the Buffalo Bills and the San Francisco 49ers. Floyd played in nine playoff games, all starts, with the Bears, Rams and Bills and recorded 24 tackles (14 solo) 5.0 sacks and a pass deflection. He helped the Rams to a victory in Super Bowl LVI to cap off the 2021 season. Floyd signed with the Atlanta Falcons ahead of the 2025 season.

• 2015 – Ereck Flowers:
  Flowers transitioned from tackle to guard during his career after his draft selection from the University of Miami. He played in 105 games over seven seasons with the New York Giants Giants, Jacksonville Jaguars, Washington Commanders and the Miami Dolphins. Flowers started a playoff game with the Giants in 2016.

SAINTS 1ST ROUND SELECTION HISTORY

The Saints have never selected from the ninth overall position. If the Saints stay in that position, it will be the franchise's highest draft selection since 2008 when the Saints drafted Sedrick Ellis seventh overall. The Saints utilized six first-round selections in the last five drafts. With those selections, the Saints selected: