We are getting even closer to the 2026 NFL Draft, and eventhough all of us would like for it to be tomorrow, there is still some time to wait. I can continue to talk about what the New Orleans Saints can do at each pick, but it may be better to see how the class stacks up as a whole. Hopefully, you can come away from here with a better understanding of each position, and maybe get some new ideas for who the Saints could select.
Here are the strengths and weaknesses of the entire 2026 NFL Draft:
Quarterback
Weakness
Starting
with the most important position in every draft, which really defines if a class is good or bad for many, the QBs. In 2026, this group is not ideal. Ferndando Mendoza is a clear #1 among the group, and he will be going to the Las Vegas Raiders at the top of the draft. Mendoza is worthy of the top pick, similar to Cam Ward last year.
Speaking of last year’s class, it is a great comparison to 2026’s. As I mentioned, Ward and Mendoza are both the top picks, and after them, there should be one more first-rounder. Last year, Jaxson Dart went to the New York Giants, and for 2026, Alabama QB Ty Simpson is expected to go in a similar range. Like Dart, Simpson is a very developmental prospect that needs time, but the massive difference is starts in college. There is a real correlation with a number of starts during a college career and success in the NFL, and for Dart, he had 41, which is more than enough (around 30 is great). Simpson only has 15.
Then, behind Dart, Tyler Shough was the next selection, and as any Saints fans know, it was a great one. In this year’s draft, there is a good chance a QB will not go in the second round, unless Simpson falls. This year and last year are very comparable in regards to the QB position, but eventhough last year was considered a weaker one, it was still better than 2026.
Running back
Weakness
One of the most prominent storylines all offseason for the NFL Draft has been where RB Jeremiyah Love will land. He is arguably the best player in the entire draft, and really, almost every team in the top 10 would be happy with selecting him, so why is this position group a weakness? Well, especially coming off an excellent RB class last year, this one is much different.
After Love, there is a major drop-off. His teammate, Jadarian Price, is expected to be RB2 in this class, but his draft range is still a bit all over the place. He is talented, but not to the level that the second-best RB in a class has been in more recent classes. Then, the rest of the RB prospects are expected to be sprinkled throughout round 3 and later. The late-round depth is also not great.
Wide Receiver
Strength
Finally, a strength. There are probably two positions that really stand out in this year’s class, and WR is one of them. Interestingly enough, at the top of the draft, the talent is actually a bit disappointing. Ohio State’s Carnell Tate is really good, but the main question is how he compares to others that have been selected in the top-10, such as Tetairoa McMillan and Malik Nabers. The two WRs behind him, Jordyn Tyson and Makai Lemon, also have some questions around their game. Tyson has had such worrying injury issues throughout his college career, and Lemon is a very undersized WR. Teams will have different opinions on these three WRs, and those opinions will heavily impact where they end up.
Still, with the worries, Tate, Tyson, and Lemon are great prospects, but the class really shines after them. In the latter part of the first round, there could be 4 WRs that go: Denzel Boston, Omar Cooper Jr., KC Concepcion, and Chris Bell. Then, on day 2, there is a really good chance that around 9 other WRs are selected. What makes this class even better is that there will be starters throughout day 3 as well.
Tight End
Strength
Another strength of the class is the TEs. In the first round, Oregon’s Kenyon Sadiq is expected to be selected in the top-20, and it is completely deserved. Sadiq is an extremely athletic TE prospect who puts in the effort in blocking. He can be a winning piece on any roster.
As of now, after Sadiq, there is no other TE expected to go in the first round, but if one player were to surprise people with a massive rise, it would be Eli Stowers. The Vanderbilt TE is another dynamic player, and a rumor has surfaced that teams view him as a potential NFL WR.
On Day 2, the current projections for the TEs are still not set, but some of the names to watch out for are Oscar Delp, Max Klare, Justin Joly, Dallen Bentley, and Michael Trigg. There could be more TEs that end up going on day 2, and with how important the position is becoming in the NFL, that would not be shocking.
Offensive Tackles
Weakness
Besides QB, OT is arguably the most important position on offense, and every year, teams are in need of finding at least one new starter. This will push offensive tackles into the top 10 who may not deserve to be selected there, and with a weaker class, the odds of that happening are much higher. The interesting thing with that potential outcome is that the offensive tackle group is actually not a strength of the class. OT Francis Mauigoa is expected to go in the top 10, and he is deserving of that.
After Mauigoa, it’s expected that 5 more OTs will go, but that may be due to positional value rather than their being first-round talents. That group will be Caleb Lomu, Monroe Freeling, Spencer Fano, and Kadyn Proctor. Then, in the rest of the draft, some tackles could go early in the second, but past them, the depth is not good.
Interior Offensive Line
Strength
This last group combines both offensive guard and center, and really the offensive guard group makes it a strenght. In this year’s draft, Olaivavega Ioane is arguably the best offensive lineman in the entire draft, but the only reason that won’t be reflected in the draft is because of his position. Although he is the clear leader among the guards, the depth of this draft is excellent as well. Throughout the entire draft, there will be opportunities for teams that need guards to find starters.
The center class had some potential entering the CFB season, led by Auburn’s Connor Lew, but after he tore his ACL, the class really did not recover. Lew could have returned to CFB, but ended up still declaring for the draft, and he could be a steal on day 2.
