BREAKING NEWS: New Orleans Saints 2026 Draft Guide Has Been Revealed
With the 2026 NFL Draft just 48 hours away, the New Orleans Saints’ strategic blueprint has come into focus. From a desperate need for a “running mate” for Chris Olave to the potential selection of Ohio State star Carnell Tate, here is your comprehensive guide to the Saints’ picks, needs, and targets.
METAIRIE, La. – The waiting is almost over. With the 2026 NFL Draft set to kick off Thursday night in Pittsburgh, the New Orleans Saints are holding the keys to a potential franchise-altering moment.
Armed with the No. 8 overall pick and a total of eight selections, the Saints enter the draft with a clear mandate: support second-year quarterback Tyler Shough and add explosive talent to a roster that showed signs of life late in the 2025 season.
Following a 6-11 campaign that exceeded low expectations, Head Coach Kellen Moore and General Manager Mickey Loomis are in a unique position. They have a top-ten pick but also the momentum of a team that believes it found its quarterback of the future in the second round last year .
The consensus among experts is unusually loud this year. While the Saints have multiple holes to fill, one specific position has emerged as the overwhelming favorite for that first-round selection.
The Primary Target: Finding Olave’s ‘Running Mate’
If you believe the buzz coming out of the Big Easy, the Saints’ draft card on Thursday night might already have a name written on it.
The overwhelming majority of mock drafts and insider reports point to the Saints selecting a wide receiver at No. 8. Specifically, Ohio State Buckeyes standout Carnell Tate has been linked to New Orleans with increasing frequency over the last month .
According to ESPN’s Jordan Reid, the Saints would “quickly add” Tate if he is available, a sentiment echoed by NFL.com’s Gennaro Filice, who labeled the Saints’ “biggest draft goal” as finding a running mate for Chris Olave .
For a franchise that watched Olave earn All-Pro second-team honors in 2025 (100 catches, 1,163 yards, 9 touchdowns), the logic is simple. Behind Olave, the receiver room is dangerously unproven. With Rashid Shaheed shipped to Seattle at the trade deadline last year, the Saints need a high-volume target to take pressure off their young quarterback .
Tate is viewed as a polished, technically sound route runner—a profile that reminds scouts of Olave himself when he came out of Columbus. Averaging 17.2 yards per reception in his final collegiate season, Tate offers the size and production to step in immediately as a WR2 with WR1 upside .
However, Tate is not the only name on the board. Experts suggest the Saints could pivot to USC’s Makai Lemon or Texas A&M’s KC Concepcion, the latter of whom has been mocked to New Orleans in the second round by Mel Kiper Jr. as a potential slot nightmare .
The Case for Defense: Edge Rushers in the Mix
Despite the heavy smoke pointing toward offense, the Saints have not tipped their hand entirely. The defense, specifically the edge rush, remains a critical area of concern.
Veteran franchise icon Cameron Jordan remains a free agent, and even if he returns, the Saints need youth and juice on the line. Chase Young and Carl Granderson are solid pieces, but adding a premier pass rusher at No. 8 could be too tempting to pass up.
ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. is one of the prominent voices advocating for a defensive pick. In his final mock draft, Kiper slotted Miami defensive end Rueben Bain Jr. to the Saints.
“The Saints’ defense is getting a bit of a refresh this offseason… they need more youth and juice on the edge,” Kiper wrote. Despite concerns about Bain’s arm length, his immense power and deep pass-rush toolbox make him a top-10 talent .
Texas Tech’s David Bailey is another name generating significant buzz. Bleacher Report’s scouting department noted that Bailey offers “rare first-step explosiveness” and the ability to win inside or outside . If the top wide receivers are gone by pick No. 8, expect the Saints to pivot hard to the defensive line.
The Complete Arsenal: A Seven-Round Blueprint
While the first round grabs the headlines, the Saints’ draft will be won on Days 2 and 3. Holding three picks in the top 75, New Orleans has the ammunition to fill multiple roster gaps.
A comprehensive review of the latest mock drafts reveals a specific blueprint for the Saints’ eight picks .
· Round 1, Pick 8 (Overall): The consensus leans heavily toward WR Carnell Tate (Ohio State) , though EDGE Rueben Bain (Miami) remains in play if the board falls defensively.
· Round 2, Pick 42: Look for Cornerback or Edge help. Names like D’Angelo Ponds (Indiana) or Zion Young (Missouri) are common projections here. The loss of slot corner Alontae Taylor to the Titans has created a void that needs immediate filling .
· Round 3, Pick 73: Romello Height (EDGE, Texas Tech) is a popular pick in this spot, offering a high-upside rotational rusher.
· Round 4, Picks 132 & 136: The Saints hold back-to-back picks here. Expect them to target the trenches. Iowa guard Beau Stephens is a favorite for those who want to protect Shough, while Oregon LB Bryce Boettcher offers special teams value and defensive depth .
· Round 5, Picks 150 & 172: Depth picks for the defensive line (Tim Keenan III, Alabama) and running back (J’Mari Taylor, Virginia).
· Round 6, Pick 190: A fun local flavor pick. Many mocks have the Saints taking Zavion Thomas (WR, LSU) in the sixth round to add return specialist skills and receiver depth .
The Big Picture: Building Around Tyler Shough
Ultimately, every decision the Saints make this weekend will be viewed through the lens of Tyler Shough. The 2025 second-round pick showed flashes that he could be the long-term answer, but the front office knows that a young quarterback’s success is contingent on the weapons around him.
The Saints were active in free agency, adding running back Travis Etienne Jr. and guard David Edwards, but they notably did not sign a high-profile wide receiver. That omission was a clear signal: the answer to the passing game woes will come through the draft .
If New Orleans can replicate the success of its 2025 class—which unearthed Shough—while adding a blue-chip receiver like Tate, they believe they can compete in a winnable NFC South.
The 2026 NFL Draft begins Thursday, April 23, at 8 p.m. ET. The Saints are on the clock at No. 8.
