The 2025 NFL Draft is a week away, and Rotowire’s Joe Bartel has the Indianapolis Colts and New Orleans Saints agreeing to a massive trade in his latest mock draft. While the first round of the big event is typically loaded with trades, nobody has made any moves as of this point. However, that will likely change during the draft itself, and Bartel believes the Saints will trade the 9th and 131st picks to the Indianapolis Colts for the 14th and 80th selections. The NFL analyst further predicts that the Colts will use their first-round pick on tight end Tyler Warren while the Saints select a potential franchise quarterback in Jaxson Dart.
Saints, Colts Agree to Massive Trade In Latest Mock Draft
On paper, this deal makes sense for both sides. While the Indianapolis Colts aren’t completely sold on former first-round pick Anthony Richardson, they will give him one more year to earn the starting job, with Daniel Jones set to be the bridge quarterback if Richardson continues to struggle. With the quarterback position likely to go unaddressed, Indianapolis could target the best tight end in this class.
Penn State’s Tyler Warren is one of the most unique prospects in recent memory. A freak athlete, Warren has the physical ability to make plays as an in-line tight end, in the slot, and even in the Wildcat formation. Basically, he’s everything Sean Payton once believed Taysom Hill could become. While he relies a little too much on his natural athleticism and must refine his route running, he’s a remarkably gifted talent who should immediately make an impact for this organization. If Richardson cannot succeed with great weapons like Warren and wide receivers Michael Pittman, Alec Pierce, and Josh Downs, then Indianapolis must find someone else in 2026.
Finding A Franchise Quarterback
The Derek Carr drama gets weirder every single day, and the team and player appear to be on an imminent course for a breakup. Even if Carr plays for the team in 2025, it’s safe to assume he won’t return in 2026. Carr is a fine veteran, but he’s not a difference-maker at this stage in his career and cannot guide a flawed roster to the playoffs. With a dire need for a true franchise quarterback, New Orleans trades back with the Colts, improves their draft capital, and still lands a promising rookie in this mock draft.
Jaxson Dart put up great numbers at Ole Miss, but the quarterback-friendly scheme boosted his numbers. Dart rarely had to do more than target his wide-open first read, which means teams can’t know how he’ll perform in unfavorable situations. With that being said, he has the athletic traits and physical gifts to play quarterback at the NFL level, which makes him worth a shot midway through the first round.
The biggest question is whether the Saints would risk losing their preferred quarterback. Colorado’s Shedeur Sanders was still on the board when the Saints had the ninth overall pick, but he was gone by the 14th overall pick. If the Saints prefer Dart, they should do this trade. However, if they think Sanders is the better prospect, then they shouldn’t risk losing him to another organization.
Main Photo: Kirby Lee – Imagn Images
