The 2026 NFL Draft is rapidly approaching. This year’s draft opens in Pittsburgh on April 23 and the New Orleans Saints hold the No. 8 overall pick in the first round.
New Orleans is coming off a 6-11 season and a last-place finish in the wide-open NFC South. It marked the third time in the last 4 years the franchise finished with a losing record, and the fifth straight season without a playoff appearance.
There is hope, though. The Saints found their quarterback in last year’s draft, selecting former Louisville passer Tyler Shough in the second round. Most draft experts expect the Saints to invest significant capital early in the 2026 draft to surround Shough with more talented targets to throw to.
But New Orleans also has a major need on the edge, with 15-year vet and franchise legend Cam Jordan a free agent in need of a new contract. Whether or not New Orleans re-signs Jordan might not impact the draft strategy; the franchise needs a young pass-rusher to add to the fold.
In total, New Orleans has 8 picks in the upcoming 2026 NFL Draft. I used the draft simulator tool from Pro Football Focus to run a full, 7-round mock with selections for all 8 picks.
New Orleans Saints mock draft
If I were running the Saints, here’s what I’d do in Pittsburgh.
2026 NFL Draft picks:
No. 8 (first round): Edge Rueben Bain Jr., Miami No. 42 (second round): LB Jacob Rodriguez, Texas Tech No. 73 (third round): WR Elijah Sarratt, Indiana No. 132 (fourth round): DB Jalon Kilgore, South Carolina No. 136 (fourth round): WR Ja’Kobi Lane, USC No. 150 (fifth round): CB Devon Marshall, NC State No. 172 (fifth round): C Pat Coogan, Indiana No. 190 (sixth round): LB Harold Perkins Jr., LSUFirst Round — Rueben Bain Jr., Miami
The top edge rushers in the class — David Bailey, Arvell Reese — were obviously off the board well before my first pick came around at No. 8. While the prospect of adding Ohio State receiver Carnell Tate to the roster was enticing, this class is loaded with receiver depth that can be plucked later. Edge is less robust after Day 1.
Bain has been knocked a few times throughout the draft process already. His sub-standard arm length was a topic of conversation at the Scouting Combine earlier this year, and over the weekend, news emerged that Bain was cited in a fatal car crash in 2024.
On Monday, Detroit’s general manager said, “We’ve known that for a while,” regarding the citation in the 2024 car crash, and stated that it becoming public now doesn’t change things for them. If the Lions knew, other organizations did as well. Some owners might be worried public sentiment could sour if they spend a premium pick on Bain, but New Orleans has a clear need at the position and Bain is a top-10 talent. The charge against Bain was later dismissed. If he slides in the draft, it would be a surprise.
As a junior, Bain helped Miami make the College Football Playoff national championship game while posting 9.5 sacks, 15.5 tackles for loss, and a nation-leading 83 pressures.
As a replacement for Jordan, or a successor-in-waiting, edge is the pick here for New Orleans and Bain is the top guy on the board.
Kalshi is offering Bain at 19 cents per contract to be the No. 8 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. Tate and LSU corner Mansoor Delane are co-favorites (at the time of publication).
Prediction Markets No. 8 Overall Pick in 2026 NFL Draft Learn more about Prediction Markets Kalshi Carnell Tate 23% Mansoor Delane 23% Kenyon Sadiq 17% Rueben Bain Jr. 15% Jermod McCoy 13% Kayden McDonald 13% Jordyn Tyson 12% Kadyn Proctor 11% Makai Lemon 10% Sonny Styles 8% PredictSecond Round — Jacob Rodriguez, Texas Tech
Rodriguez was my favorite player in this spot for the Saints, so getting him at No. 42 was a dream scenario. A Bain-Rodriguez start to the draft would be an outstanding way for New Orleans to open things up.
New Orleans lost Demario Davis to the Jets in free agency, and they pivoted by signing Kaden Elliss from the Falcons on a 3-year deal with a reported $23 million guaranteed. Saints general manager Mickey Loomis likes to draft a year early for needs, and that might be the case here. The Saints also spent a fourth-round pick on former Oklahoma linebacker Danny Stutsman last year.
But New Orleans will miss Davis’s instincts and leadership at the position. Rodriguez could develop into the next stalwart at off-ball linebacker for the organization. A former quarterback at Virginia, Rodriguez broke out as a tackling machine at Texas Tech in 2024, when he logged 127 tackles. In 2025, he made another 128 tackles while earning a unanimous All-American selection, the Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year award, the Butkus Award, the Bronko Nagurski Trophy, and the Chuck Bednarik Award.
Rodriguez can be an every-down starter in the league.
Third Round — Elijah Sarratt, Indiana
Wideouts come off the board with 2 of my next 3 picks as acting Saints GM. Sarratt brings great value in the third round, with a championship pedigree and a nose for the end zone. Sarratt led the FBS with 15 receiving touchdowns in 2025, even though he had to share the spotlight with Omar Cooper. He was a back-shoulder demon, catching balls from Heisman Trophy-winner Fernando Mendoza. Sarratt is a good running mate to pair with Saints receiver Chris Olave.
Fourth Round — Jalon Kilgore, South Carolina
Ohio State standout Caleb Downs is another player who has been heavily linked to New Orleans at No. 8, and it makes a ton of sense. His versatility fits Brandon Staley’s defense wonderfully. Staley’s usage of Derwin James is a nice comp in that regard. And New Orleans needs to replace nickel Alontae Taylor, who left in free agency. Kilgore might be long gone by the time this pick comes around, but he was available for me, and this selection felt like a great way to maximize value. Edge rusher gets filled early with a top talent, and we still land a versatile defensive back who can play several roles in Staley’s defense. Kilgore played all over the field for South Carolina in his career. He’s a good tackler with 8 career interceptions and 21 pass breakups.
Fourth Round — Ja’Kobi Lane, USC
Our second selection of the fourth round is another receiver. While Sarratt is the kind of guy who will be exactly where Shough needs him to be when he needs him to be there, Lane will be the big-bodied guy who can make plays down the field. The former USC receiver has a ton of upside; he posted a 4.47-40, a 40-inch vertical, and a 10-foot-9 broad jump in the pre-draft process, and he ranked in the top 10 among Big Ten receivers for contested catches last season.
Fifth Round — Devon Marshall, NC State
The Saints used a second-round pick in 2024 on former Alabama corner Kool-Aid McKinstry, and they used a 2025 fourth-round pick on former Louisville corner Quincy Riley. I don’t mind adding 2 more defensive backs in this draft if Marshall is on the board. He’s a consistently productive player despite lacking elite athletic traits. He’s also a player who can play man or off-ball coverage. That’ll work for our purposes.
Fifth Round — Pat Coogan, Indiana
Investment in the offensive line has been a priority this offseason for New Orleans. They have a young quarterback to protect and a sputtering run game to rebuild. In free agency, the Saints spent big money on former Bills guard David Edwards and former Jaguars running back Travis Etienne Jr. The message was sent loudly and clearly. With former first-round picks Kelvin Banks and Taliese Fuaga at tackle, adding depth on the interior is a bigger need in this draft. Coogan can play center or guard. He was once a left guard at Notre Dame before starting at center for the title-winning Hoosiers in 2025. He can provide relief as a backup center for Erik McCoy, who is coming off a season-ending bicep tear. Coogan can also provide a challenge for Cesar Ruiz at right guard — the weak link on the New Orleans line.
Sixth Round — Harold Perkins Jr., LSU
Why not? Perkins was a quarterback’s worst nightmare as a freshman at LSU. If he were 6-foot-3 instead of his listed 6-foot-1, we’d be talking about a Day 1 or 2 edge rushing talent. Injuries and position uncertainty deflated his status as his career went along at LSU, but this feels like a pick worth making on a homegrown talent late in the draft.
NFL Mock Draft 2026: Projecting every New Orleans Saints pick Saturday Down South.
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