Who are the New Orleans Saints picking in preseason mock drafts well ahead of the 2027 NFL Draft? And how can you scout them? We've surveyed the latest round of mock drafts from around the NFL media landscape to get an idea of which prospects could be on the Saints' radar. Obviously it's too early to look at these as accurate predictions. The goal is just to highlight names to follow throughout the college football season.
Now with that said, we don't even know where the Saints will be picking in 2027. Many of these mock drafts used things like reversed Super Bowl odds and projected win totals to determine seeding. So we've ordered all of these mock draft picks for the Saints based on where New Orleans was picking each time. With that in mind,
here's your college football watch list:
All Access Football: Dylan Stewart, EDGE, South Carolina (6th pick)
"The Gamecocks are loaded with top-end talent, led by Stewart, who serves as a force on the edge."
When to watch him: Saturday, Sept. 5 at 11:45 a.m. CT on SEC Network (vs. Kent State)
ESPN: Colin Simmons, EDGE, Texas (8th pick)
"The Saints need edge help in both the short term and long term, as Chase Young and Carl Granderson will be free agents in 2028. Simmons would be a major boost to New Orleans' defensive front as the most productive edge rusher in this class. He led the SEC with 12 sacks last season, and the 6-foot-3, 245-pounder is a terror with an unpredictable assortment of pass-rush moves. His combination of power and upfield quickness has him in the argument with Dylan Stewart as the top edge in this draft."
When to watch him: Saturday, Sept. 5 at 2:30 p.m. CT on ESPN (vs. Texas State)
A to Z Sports: Colin Simmons, EDGE, Texas (8th pick)
"While Cam Jordan is returning for one more season with the Saints, New Orleans seriously needs to find their next great pass rusher. Simmons isn’t as long or as explosive as Stewart, but he’s much better technically and has a really nice bend to flatten the track. With increased power in his game this offseason, he has a chance to solidify himself as a potentially elite prospect in the 2027 class."
When to watch him: Saturday, Sept. 5 at 2:30 p.m. CT on ESPN (vs. Texas State)
Tankathon: Leonard Moore, CB, Notre Dame (8th pick)
From our writeup on Moore over the summer:
"Moore won a host of honors last year at Notre Dame; he was a unanimous All-American, a finalist for both the Jim Thorpe Award and Bronko Nagurski Trophy, and a semifinalist for both the Chuck Bednarik Award and the Lott IMPACT Trophy. He was chiefly responsible for holding USC Trojans wide receiver Makai Lemon, the Philadelphia Eagles' first-round pick in April, to just four catches and 76 yards when their teams met. He has all the qualities teams look for between his prototypical size (listed at 6-foot-2, 195 pounds), clean play (5 penalties on 1,368 career defensive snaps) and ball skills (7 career interceptions and 18 passes defensed). If the Saints are going to be as successful this season as we hope, Moore may not be there when they pick next year."
When to watch him: Sunday, Sept. 6 at 6:30 p.m. CT on NBC and Peacock (vs. Wisconsin in Green Bay)
Bleacher Report: Dylan Stewart, EDGE, South Carolina (9th pick)
"As long as Tyler Shough builds upon an impressive rookie campaign, the New Orleans Saints will find themselves in an outstanding position to build the rest of their roster.
Case in point, the addition of South Carolina's Dylan Stewart adds a high-level talent at a premium position. Frankly, Stewart could easily be in the conversation for the No. 1 overall talent by the time the 2027 cycle ends.
"Cam Jordan expects to play 'one final season,'" Holder said. "Meanwhile, both Chase Young and Carl Granderson are only signed through the 2027 campaign. So, the Saints should invest in another high-level pass-rusher, and Stewart brings rare athleticism to the position.
"The South Carolina product regressed somewhat last season, but 11 sacks during his first two seasons against SEC competition is nothing to scoff at. Coming in as the B/R's fifth-best prospect, he'd be a steal with the ninth overall pick."
When to watch him: Saturday, Sept. 5 at 11:45 a.m. CT on SEC Network (vs. Kent State)
Athlon Sports: Will Echoles, DL, Ole Miss (11th pick)
"Even if Bryan Bresee gets back on track at full strength next season after missing the entire 2026 campaign due to injury, the Saints could still invest their top pick in another high-end interior defender to fortify the trenches on that side of the ball. Echoles is a disruptive force at the point of attack, with a complete skill set that allows him to wreak havoc as both a pass rusher and a run stuffer."
When to watch him: Sunday, Sept. 6 at 6:30 p.m. CT on ABC (vs. Louisville in Nashville)
The Athletic: Yhonzae Pierre, EDGE, Alabama (11th pick)
"Pierre is 244 pounds of dynamite and gasoline off the edge. A relentless, twitched-up pass rusher who is physical enough to be a factor versus the run, Pierre plays with great bend and explosion through his whole body. He’s a three-down energy giver."
When to watch him: Saturday, Sept. 5 at 11 a.m. CT on ABC (vs. East Carolina)
Sports Illustrated: KJ Bolden, S, Georgia (20th pick)
"It’s difficult to assume a safety will go in the first round because NFL teams rarely reach for players at the position that early. But the 6'0", 185-pound Bolden could be a lock if he does more of what he already has done in two seasons at Georgia. He has the coverage skills and physicality to be a chess piece for defensive coordinator Brandon Staley. Currently, New Orleans has Justin Reid and Julian Blackmon, but defenses nowadays prefer to have three reliable safeties."
When to watch him: Saturday, Sept. 5 at 2 p.m. CT on SEC Network+ (vs. Tennessee State)
This article originally appeared on Saints Wire: 2027 NFL mock drafts: Who Saints are picking, when to watch them
