🏈 Saints NFL Draft Predictions 2026: Mock Draft Picks, Best Prospect Fits, Team Needs & More
Coming off a 3-14 season with the No. 8 pick, the New Orleans Saints need to find a pass-rushing complement to a front seven that ranked among the league's worst in 2025 while giving second-year quarterback Tyler Shough more weapons under Kellen Moore's offense.
As part of our NFL draft predictions for every team, we break down the Saints' full draft picks, biggest team needs, ideal prospect fits, mock draft projections, and our prediction for which player New Orleans will draft in the first round, which begins Thursday at 8 p.m. ET live on ABC, ESPN, and NFL Network.
📊 Saints draft picks 2026
See where the Saints rank by the latest Super Bowl odds for every team.
| Round | Pick(s) |
|---|---|
| 1 | No. 8 |
| 2 | No. 42 |
| 3 | No. 73 |
| 4 | No. 132, 136 |
| 5 | No. 150, 172 |
| 6 | No. 190 |
| 7 | No pick |
🆘 Saints team needs entering draft
We break down every team's projected NFL win totals with our best Over/Under picks by division.
- Team needs: EDGE, OL, WR, QB, CB
- Key additions: Travis Etienne (RB), David Edwards (OG), Kaden Elliss (LB), Noah Fant (TE), Zach Wilson (QB)
- Key departures: Cameron Jordan (EDGE), Demario Davis (LB, Jets), Alontae Taylor (CB, Titans), Taysom Hill (TE), Luke Fortner (C, Panthers), Jonathan Bullard (DL, Cowboys)
Jordan is still unsigned as a free agent and likely won't return, leaving a massive void off the edge that defined this defense for over a decade. Chris Olave desperately needs a running mate at receiver if Shough is going to continue developing in Moore's system, and the offensive line lost its starting center in Fortner. Etienne's signing also puts Alvin Kamara's future in question as the 30-year-old running back enters what could be his final season.
🏈 Saints draft prospect fits
I asked NFL draft expert Rob Paul to pick the Saints' best prospect fit in a dream scenario, their safest pick, and their best upside pick for Thursday:
| Pick type | No. 8 pick | Grade | Paul's take |
|---|---|---|---|
| 🌟 Dream pick | Rueben Bain Jr., DL, Miami | 7.35 | If Bain's arm length and off-field questions push him out of the top five, New Orleans should sprint to the podium - he's the most dominant pass rusher in the class and would be an ideal Cameron Jordan replacement with his power and relentless motor |
| 🛡️ Safe pick | David Bailey, EDGE, Texas Tech | 7.30 | If Bain is gone, Bailey would be a strong consolation prize with his explosive first step and ability to convert speed to power, giving the Saints a cornerstone edge rusher for the next decade |
| 🚀 Upside pick | Caleb Downs, SAF, Ohio State | 7.40 | This doesn't address the Saints' biggest need, but Downs is one of the three best players in the draft and would immediately upgrade New Orleans' secondary with his football IQ and violent playing style |
More scouting reports & player profiles
➡️ Arvell Reese draft profile: Scouting report, team prediction & draft odds
➡️ Jeremiyah Love draft profile: Scouting report, team prediction & draft odds
➡️ Carnell Tate draft profile: Scouting report, team prediction & draft odds
➡️ Jordyn Tyson draft profile: Scouting report, team prediction & draft odds
📝 Saints mock draft consensus picks
I went through the latest mock drafts from other top experts across the industry and gathered their predictions for the Saints' first pick in the 2026 NFL draft. Here's who they expect New Orleans to draft at No. 8:
| Source | Pick |
|---|---|
| Mel Kiper (ESPN) | Rueben Bain Jr., EDGE, Miami |
| Chad Reuter (NFL.com) | Sonny Styles, LB, Ohio State |
| Mike Renner (CBS) | Caleb Downs, S, Ohio State |
| Todd McShay (The Ringer) | Arvell Reese, EDGE/LB, Ohio State (at No. 3, trade up) |
| Dane Brugler (The Athletic) | Sonny Styles, LB, Ohio State |
| Nate Tice (Yahoo) | Sonny Styles, LB, Ohio State |
Three of six mocks have the Saints taking Ohio State linebacker Sonny Styles, making it the most popular projection for New Orleans at No. 8. Kiper aligns with Paul's dream pick in Bain, while Renner matches his upside swing in Downs. McShay is the most aggressive, projecting the Saints to trade up to No. 3 for Ohio State's Arvell Reese. Paul expects a different pass-rusher to be the pick.
🔮 Saints draft prediction 2026
See Rob Paul's expert NFL mock draft for projections and analysis of all 32 first-round picks.
Paul's pick at No. 8: Rueben Bain Jr., DL, Miami
- Pro comparison: Brandon Graham
- Measurables: 6'2" | 263 lbs | 21 years old | RAS: N/A
The most dominant defensive player down the stretch of the college football season is also a historical outlier. While Rueben Bain Jr. led the country in pressures (83) with a 23.5% pass rush win rate, his arm length is in the 1st percentile for edge rushers (30 7/8"). Although his arm length and questions about an off-field incident could push him down the board, New Orleans Saints GM Mickey Loomis will have a hard time passing on a Cameron Jordan replacement.
🏈 NFL draft predictions by team
See the live NFL draft odds for the top picks from the best NFL betting sites.
Ahead of the 2026 NFL Draft, I broke down every team's full draft capital, their biggest needs and ideal prospect fits, the latest mock draft consensus from industry experts, and our draft prediction for their first pick this week:
AFC East: Bills | Dolphins | Jets | Patriots
AFC North: Bengals | Browns | Ravens | Steelers
AFC South: Colts | Jaguars | Texans | Titans
AFC West: Broncos | Chargers | Chiefs | Raiders
NFC East: Commanders | Cowboys | Eagles | Giants
NFC North: Bears | Lions | Packers | Vikings
NFC South: Buccaneers | Falcons | Panthers | Saints
NFC West: 49ers | Cardinals | Rams | Seahawks
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