Saints’ 2026 Mock Draft: Rebuilding the Trenches and Finding a Franchise QB Successor
NFL Draft Analyst
April 19, 2026
NEW ORLEANS — Two years removed from the end of the Drew Brees era’s final echoes, the New Orleans Saints enter the 2026 NFL Draft at a genuine crossroads. The salary cap wizardry of GM Mickey Loomis has kept the window propped open longer than anyone expected, but the 2025 season exposed uncomfortable truths. Derek Carr, now 35, is a competent bridge, not a solution. The offensive line aged overnight, and the defensive front seven lacked the explosion that defined the Dennis Allen—now Kellen Moore—era.
With eight selections in the 2026 draft, including a top-10 pick after a 6-11 campaign, the Saints are poised to do something they haven’t done in a decade: invest in a young franchise quarterback while simultaneously overhauling the trenches.
Here is a full, 1,000-word mock draft projection for all eight New Orleans Saints picks in the 2026 NFL Draft, factoring in team needs, prospect declarations, and recent league trends.
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Round 1, Pick 9: Quinn Ewers, QB, Texas
The speculation ends here. With the ninth overall pick, the Saints select Quinn Ewers out of Texas. After a 2025 season where Ewers finally put together a complete, healthy campaign—throwing for 3,800 yards, 32 touchdowns, and only 8 interceptions—he has cemented himself as QB2 behind Georgia’s Arch Manning.
Why this works: Derek Carr’s contract has an out after 2026. Drafting Ewers allows him to sit for one season, learn Moore’s West Coast offense, and take over in 2027. Ewers possesses the elite arm talent and quick release to thrive in the Superdome’s controlled environment. His ability to layer throws over the middle fits Chris Olave and Rashid Shaheed perfectly. The only concern is durability, but a redshirt rookie year mitigates that risk. New Orleans doesn’t reach for a project; they take the most pro-ready passer in the class.
Round 2, Pick 41: Will Campbell, OT, LSU (Trade Up)
Projected trade: Saints send pick 45 and a 2027 5th-rounder to Carolina for pick 41.
After losing Ryan Ramczyk to a degenerative knee condition and watching Trevor Penning struggle with consistency, left tackle becomes a crisis. The Saints move up four spots to grab LSU’s Will Campbell, a local hero who started 40 games in the SEC. Campbell is not the most athletic tackle in the class, but he is the most technical. He wins with hands, leverage, and a mean streak in the run game.
Pairing Campbell with 2024 first-rounder Taliese Fuaga (who moves to right tackle) gives New Orleans a bookend duo for the next six years. For a team that wants to protect its young quarterback, this is the non-negotiable pick.
Round 3, Pick 73: Mason Graham, DT, Michigan
The interior defensive line is a wasteland after the departures of David Onyemata and Shy Tuttle in previous years. Bryan Bresee has shown flashes as a pass-rusher but is a liability against the run. Enter Michigan’s Mason Graham.
Graham is a 315-pound fire hydrant who dominated the Senior Bowl practices with his violent hands and anchor strength. He won’t post 10 sacks, but he will collapse the pocket and swallow double teams. New defensive coordinator Joe Woods needs a run-stuffer to free up Demario Davis (aging but effective) and Pete Werner. Graham is the blue-collar, high-floor pick that wins in December.
Round 4, Pick 109: Malachi Starks, S, Georgia
The safety room is a quiet crisis. Tyrann Mathieu is 34. Jordan Howden is a special-teamer. The Saints need a long-term partner for 2024 breakout star Johnathan Abram (re-signed on a one-year deal). Starks is a steal here. The Georgia product is a smooth, rangy free safety who can play single-high and allow Abram to roam the box. He had four interceptions in 2025 and runs a 4.48 forty. In Round 4, you’re looking for future starters. Starks is exactly that.
Round 4, Pick 113 (Compensatory): TreVeyon Henderson, RB, Ohio State
Alvin Kamara turns 31 in July. While he remains elusive, the tread is low. Kendre Miller has missed 14 games in two seasons. The Saints need a home-run hitter. Henderson, who rushed for 1,400 yards and 15 touchdowns as a senior for the Buckeyes, is a home-run threat every time he touches the ball. His vision is elite, and he has third-down chops as a pass-blocker. This pick provides insurance for Kamara and could be the thunder to Miller’s lightning in 2027.
Round 5, Pick 145: J.T. Tuimoloau, EDGE, Ohio State
Edge rusher is never a solved problem. Carl Granderson is solid, and 2025 rookie Isaiah Foskey is developing slowly. Tuimoloau is a classic Saints projection: a 6-foot-4, 270-pound power end who lacks elite bend but wins with effort and length. He forced five fumbles in his final collegiate season. In a rotation, he can provide 5-7 sacks and set the edge against the run. This is a depth swing with starting upside if Foskey falters.
Round 6, Pick 181: Xavier Worthy, WR, Texas (Speed Pick)
Yes, the Saints have Olave and Shaheed. But Shaheed is entering a contract year, and the team lacks a true gadget player. Worthy, who ran a 4.25 forty at the 2025 Combine (but returned for his senior year), is a pure field-tilter. He is not a full-time X receiver, but Klint Kubiak (if retained) could use him on jet sweeps, orbit motions, and deep crossers. In the sixth round, you draft traits. Worthy’s traits are elite.
Round 7, Pick 217: Jackson Powers-Johnson, C, Oregon
The final pick is a luxury that addresses a hidden need. Erik McCoy is an excellent center, but he has suffered two major foot injuries in three years. Powers-Johnson is a 320-pound mauler who played guard and center at Oregon. He is a developmental pivot who can back up all three interior spots. If he hits, he becomes McCoy’s heir in 2028. If he misses, it’s a seventh-round flyer. No risk, high reward.
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Analysis: A Blueprint for 2027 and Beyond
If this mock draft plays out, the Saints will have accomplished three critical goals.
First, they secure their quarterback of the future in Quinn Ewers without forcing him onto the field before he’s ready. The Derek Carr bridge allows for a proper apprenticeship, something the Saints botched with Ian Book.
Second, they rebuild the offensive line with two potential stars. Will Campbell and Taliese Fuaga give New Orleans its most promising tackle duo since the days of Jermon Bushrod and Jon Stinchcomb. That foundation is non-negotiable for any sustained success.
Third, they add defensive volatility. Mason Graham fixes the run defense. Malachi Starks modernizes the secondary. J.T. Tuimoloau adds needed depth. This isn’t a flashy draft—there is no blockbuster trade for a pass rusher. Instead, it’s a disciplined, boring, winning formula: protect the quarterback, disrupt the opponent’s quarterback, and add explosive skill players on Day 3.
The NFC South remains winnable. Tampa Bay is aging at key spots, Atlanta is still searching for defensive consistency, and Carolina is a mess. If Kellen Moore can develop Ewers over 18 months, and the 2026 draft class delivers three immediate starters (Ewers, Campbell, Graham), the Saints could return to the playoffs by 2027.
But for now, this mock draft signals what fans have been craving: a reset without a rebuild. The Saints aren’t tearing it down. They’re reloading with youth, intelligence, and a clear vision. That starts with eight picks in April 2026.
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