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It's tough to project the NFL Draft over a month ahead of it. That being said, mock drafts are fun, and the New Orleans Saints currently own a top ten selection in this year's draft. 

Defensive line? Offensive weapon? Help in the secondary? There are a ton of options for New Orleans in round one. At this point, it is tough to scoff at any projected pick for the Saints at ninth overall.

Trevor Sikkema of Pro Football Focus recently released a predictive 2025 NFL mock draft following the Scouting Combine.

9. NEW ORLEANS SAINTS: LB JALON WALKER, GEORGIA

Walker is a tweener who played mostly as an off-ball linebacker this past season, but from everything I have heard, the NFL views him as a versatile chess piece who can play true linebacker and edge defender. This is too early to draft him for my taste, but the vibe I got from the combine is that NFL teams are generally higher on Walker’s defensive impact than I am. The Saints have multiple needs along their defensive front and could see Walker as a fix for a few of them. -- Trevor Sikkema

This pick, while different from what we often see in mocks for the Saints, makes some sense. Walker projects as a scheme fit for Brandon Staley's defense in New Orleans, and they must improve their pass rush this offseason. 

Pressures were not an issue for the Saints last season, but they could not finish those rushes with sacks or forced turnovers often enough. That's gotta change, and Walker can make some game-wrecking plays. 

Jalon Walker is a bit of a unicorn. He can play several roles incredibly well in the front six or seven defenders. His consistent pass rush win rates and first round athletic traits make him a wildly difficult defender to plan and scheme against.However, it might take some time for him to find his best fit at the NFL level. He could certainly improve in coverage, but if asked to do that a lot early on there might be struggles. Walker should succeed as a pass rush specialist early on, with flexibility to play a hybrid role throughout his career given his freak athleticism. -- Travis May

As of now, Walker is ranked as the 24th overall prospect in the class at A to Z Sports.

It is also worth mentioning that this selection overlooks LSU OL prospect Will Campbell. He was still on the board at this pick, which is not always the case. 

In Sikkema's scenario, he lands with the Chicago Bears just one pick after the Saints' round one selection. Campbell's length concerns have forced many to think he is a guard in the NFL, but it remains to be seen if he gets a chance to play offensive tackle to begin his career or not. 

If he's on the board, he'll be on the Saints' radar, but another direction may actually make more sense.