BREAKING NEWS: New Orleans Saints Plan To Pick Iowa State Defensive Lineman Dom Orange Due To Dominant Run-Stuffing Prowess and Cameron Jordan’s Uncertain Future
METAIRIE, La. – With the 2026 NFL Draft just hours away, the New Orleans Saints are finalizing their draft board, and league sources indicate a clear target has emerged for the black and gold on Day 2.
According to multiple team insiders and league scouting reports obtained by our newsroom, the Saints plan to select Iowa State Cyclones defensive lineman Domonique “Big Citrus” Orange, provided he is available when they are on the clock in the third round. The decision is driven by a critical combination of a gaping roster need, Orange’s elite and specific skill set, and the looming departure of a franchise icon.
While the Saints hold the No. 8 overall pick in the first round—where they are expected to target either a top receiver or edge rusher—sources confirm that Orange is the primary “blue chip” target for the interior on Day 2. The team had defensive line coaches personally run drills with Orange during his Pro Day, signaling a level of interest that goes far due diligence .
The “Big Citrus” Factor: Why New Orleans is Sold
At 6-foot-2 and 322 pounds, Domonique Orange is not just a defensive tackle; he is a specific archetype that the Saints’ defensive front has lacked since the decline of veteran run-stuffers. Nicknamed “Big Citrus” for his roots in the Sunshine State (via Kansas City, Missouri), Orange is widely regarded as the most fundamentally sound two-gap nose tackle in this draft class .
“He is a people-mover,” an NFC scouting director told our network on condition of anonymity. “Everyone wants the flashy sack numbers, but Orange is the guy who makes the rest of the defense better. He eats up double teams so the linebackers can run free.”
While Orange’s sack production at Iowa State was modest—recording just one sack over his collegiate career—his impact on the run game was devastating. In 2025, despite facing constant double and triple teams, he maintained a high run-stop percentage, anchoring a Cyclones front that ranked among the Big 12’s best against the run . His performance at the NFL Scouting Combine, where he posted a 5.15-second 40-yard dash and a 4.65-second short shuttle at over 320 pounds, cemented his status as a freakish athlete for his size .
For a Saints team that finished middle of the pack in rushing yards allowed per attempt in 2025, the addition of Orange would provide a foundational block in the trenches.
Reason No. 1: The Cameron Jordan Succession Plan
The most pressing reason for the Saints’ infatuation with Orange is the immediate and uncertain future of future Hall of Famer Cameron Jordan.
Jordan, 37, remains a free agent. While the Saints have not closed the door on a reunion, the financial reality of the cap-strapped Saints makes a return difficult. Even if Jordan signs a veteran-minimum deal, the team cannot rely on him as a full-time three-down player anymore.
“Cam is the heart and soul of that locker room, but the business of football is cruel,” said a veteran NFC executive. “You have to plan for life without him. Orange allows you to rotate heavily on the defensive line, keeping guys fresh in the fourth quarter of a brutal NFC South schedule.”
Unlike pass-rush specialists who come off the field on running downs, Orange thrives in the chaos. He projects as an immediate early-down run stuffer who can line up over the center or shade to the A-gap, a role currently filled by a rotation of unproven young players and journeymen .
Reason No. 2: The Failure to Stop the Run in Critical Moments
The Saints’ 2025 season ended in disappointment largely due to an inability to stop opposing ground games in short-yardage situations. Film study of the Saints’ Week 18 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers revealed a soft interior that was pushed off the line of scrimmage on key third-and-short conversions.
Orange is specifically built to fix that. Scouting reports highlight his explosive first step and heavy hands, which allow him to jolt offensive linemen backward before they can get set . His ability to absorb contact and still locate the ball carrier is considered NFL-ready.
“He is a violent human being when the ball is snapped,” an AFC area scout told us. “He plays with a ‘nasty’ streak that you don’t see in a lot of these younger guys. He wants to put centers on skates.”
Reason No. 3: Schematic Fit with Joe Woods
The Saints’ defensive philosophy under coordinator Joe Woods relies heavily on the front four generating pressure without heavy blitzing. However, Woods’ scheme is notoriously vulnerable to the run if the nose tackle cannot command a double team.
Orange fits the Woods prototype perfectly. He has the size to two-gap—meaning he can control the blocker on either side of him to stuff runs to either A-gap—but he also has the unexpected lateral agility to shoot gaps and disrupt screens .
His 33 3/8-inch arms allow him to disengage from blockers far quicker than traditional run-pluggers, making him a viable option to stay on the field for all three downs as he develops his pass-rush repertoire .
The Draft Day Strategy
The Saints currently hold the No. 73 overall pick in the third round. According to consensus big boards—including NFL Mock Draft Database—Orange is projected to go off the board between the late second round and early third round .
New Orleans may be forced to trade up from No. 73 if a run on defensive tackles occurs early on Day 2. The Houston Texans and Pittsburgh Steelers have also shown significant interest in Orange, with the Steelers hosting a private workout for him on April 7 . The Las Vegas Raiders, picking at No. 68, are also seen as a potential landing spot .
However, the Saints hold a unique advantage: need and proximity. Sources suggest that Orange has a pre-draft visit scheduled with the Saints in Metairie, a sign that the team is doing its homework to ensure his character matches his on-field ferocity.
What the Experts Are Saying
The analytical community is split on Orange due to his lack of sack production, but the tape evaluators are unanimous: he is a difference-maker against the run.
“Orange is a good interior defensive lineman with the ability to eat up and sometimes beat double teams,” writes Sports Illustrated’s Zach Pressnell. “If Orange is on the board when the Saints are on the clock in the third round, he’s certainly somebody to watch” .
Meanwhile, NFL Mocks compared Orange to veteran NFL lineman Dalvin Tomlinson—a high-floor, low-ceiling starter who has earned millions simply by being immovable .
“He’s not Aaron Donald,” one scout admitted. “But neither are 99% of the guys in the league. Dom Orange is the kind of guy who starts for eight years in this league, and that is incredibly valuable in the third round.”
The Bottom Line
For the New Orleans Saints, the 2026 NFL Draft is about transitioning from the Drew Brees/Cam Jordan era to the Tyler Shough era. While the offense needs weapons, the defense needs an identity.
Domonique Orange represents a return to the “bruise brothers” mentality that defined the Saints’ best defenses under Dennis Allen. He is the antidote to the athletic, mobile quarterbacks of the NFC—a big body that collapses the pocket from the inside, forcing quarterbacks off their spot and into the arms of the Saints’ edge rushers.
If the Saints stick to the script, expect “Big Citrus” to be squeezing into a black and gold jersey by Friday night.
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Scouting Snapshot: Domonique Orange, DL, Iowa State
· Height/Weight: 6-foot-2, 322 pounds
· Nickname: “Big Citrus”
· Projected Round: 2-3
· Strengths: Elite run defender, heavy hands, gap integrity, surprising lateral quickness
· Weaknesses: Raw pass-rush moves, inconsistent pad level, history of minor quad injuries
