With just three short weeks remaining until the Las Vegas Raiders are on the clock with the first-overall pick of the 2026 NFL Draft in Pittsburgh, teams are beginning to wrap up their prospect meetings, cramming as much film time as they can, and narrowing down big boards to select the next members of their organizations. The same is true for the New Orleans Saints. It is seemingly more possible that the team will have its pick of the bunch of remaining top athletes as they hold the eighth-overall
pick in the upcoming draft. Although there are several areas of need, they can only fill those gaps one player at a time.
One of the more glaring needs in New Orleans is offensive firepower to surround starting quarterback Tyler Shough with, more specifically, at the wide receiver position. Luckily for the Saints, there is a bevy of top-end, talented pass catchers available throughout this year’s class, most of whom should be available when New Orleans goes on the clock.
Many expect Ohio State’s Carnell Tate to be the first WR taken off the board, but when that first wideout will be taken is the big looming question. If Tate were taken early, New Orleans would likely have their choice of USC’s Makai Lemon or Arizona State’s Jordyn Tyson. Should Mickey Loomis and Kellen Moore decide to address another position of need in the first round, quality options like Alabama’s Germie Bernard or Louisville’s Chris Bell could be available in the second or third rounds. Bell was a college teammate of Tyler Shough’s, and the QB has been very vocal about playing again with his former WR.
While still necessary to obtain youth at the position, if New Orleans is unable to come to terms with veteran edge rusher Cam Jordan, the Saints will need to focus their attention on drafting the next great pass rusher to wear the black and gold. Perhaps the top option available in this year’s draft, Rueben Bain Jr., could be just what the doctor ordered in the 2026 edition of Brandon Staley’s defense.
Although New Orleans may love the chance to draft OSU’s Arvell Reese or Texas Tech’s David Bailey, I would not expect either to be there when the Saints pick, barring any trade up. If Bain is not the best player available at number eight, I would watch for Missouri’s Zion Young or Auburn’s Keldric Faulk to be targeted in the later portion of the first round. Another Miami Hurricane, Akheem Mesidor, could also potentially be in play for New Orleans.
If New Orleans decides that it’s comfortable with the current offensive groupings, it is certainly possible that the Saints lean heavily towards the defensive side of the ball. With the departure of cornerback Alontae Taylor in free agency, filling the defensive back room could be of interest to the Saints.
Tennessee’s Jermod McCoy and LSU’s Mansoor Delane could go interchangeably as CB1 and CB2 in this year’s class. While it’s unlikely that New Orleans would reach for this position, it’s an area of need to keep an eye on if the staff and coaches find a player they absolutely fall in love with.
What do you think New Orleans should do with their first pick of the draft? What are some names you hope to see wearing the black and gold next season? Let us know in the comments!
