Monday night’s prime-time game between two winless teams carries a surprising appeal for New Orleans Saints fans. It’s not just that New York Jets head coach Aaron Glenn was the Saints’ top choice for their own coaching job; like Kellen Moore, he’s still searching for his first win. Because each of these teams 0-3 or worse, we’ve got a four-way tie for the first pick in the 2026 NFL draft. Whether it’s the Jets or the Miami Dolphins claiming victory, Week 4’s finale is going to have big implications for the early forecast of next year’s draft. It’s the Saints, Jets, Dolphins, and Tennessee Titans in the mix.
Who could they pick? The natural answer would be a quarterback, but it doesn’t look like there’s a surefire prospect waiting to save a team. There isn’t a safe pick like Cam Ward last year, or Caleb Williams and C.J. Stroud before him. We’re short on exciting high-end prospects like Jayden Daniels, Bryce Young, and Anthony Richardson, too. The way-too-early predictions have the best talents playing defense or supporting a passer, not throwing themselves.
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Maybe someone like Indiana’s star transfer Fernando Mendoza or Oregon redshirt sophomore Dante Dante Moore plays their way into the top-five, but it hasn’t happened yet. There’s time for LaNorris Sellers to distance himself from other quarterbacks, too. All of the other big names hyped up this summer have stumbled and played their way out of the top 10 picks, at least for now.
So let’s say the Saints end up picking first overall. With the calendar shifting from September to October, who could be the pick next April? Here are some names to know, and which factors may hold them back:
EDGE Rueben Bain Jr., Miami
Oct 5, 2024; Berkeley, California, USA; Miami Hurricanes defensive lineman Rueben Bain Jr. (4) sacks California Golden Bears quarterback Fernando Mendoza (right) during the fourth quarter at California Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Darren Yamashita-Imagn Images
Why he wouldn’t be the first overall pick: Bain doesn’t have the height and length teams value, but he’s well within the Saints’ established preferences at a listed 6-foot-3 and 275 pounds. Last year an early-season calf muscle injury tripped him up, and teams will want to do their due diligence on his medical history because of it.
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S Caleb Downs, Ohio State
Sep 13, 2025; Columbus, Ohio, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes safety Caleb Downs (2) reacts during the first quarter against the Ohio Bobcats during the second half at Ohio Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Joseph Maiorana-Imagn Images
Why he wouldn’t be the first overall pick: Safeties just don’t go this high; Jamal Adams was the last one to go top-10 in 2017 (at No. 6). Eric Berry was the No. 5 pick in 2010, the high-water mark which Sean Taylor set a couple of years earlier in 2004. There just isn’t precedent for a safety be the top pick, but Downs may be the exception.
DT Peter Woods, Clemson
CLEMSON, SOUTH CAROLINA – AUGUST 30: Defensive tackle Peter Woods #11 of the Clemson Tigers warms up before the game against the LSU Tigers at Memorial Stadium on August 30, 2025 in Clemson, South Carolina. (Photo by Katie Januck/Getty Images)
Why he wouldn’t be the first overall pick: Woods has been stonewalled on passing downs this season; he was never racking up tons of quarterback pressures before, but he’s almost been a non-factor in that department early this season. He only has four pressures on 118 pass-rush snaps after bagging 20 of them on 221 snaps a year ago.
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EDGE T.J. Parker, Clemson
Dec 7, 2024; Charlotte, NC, USA; Clemson Tigers defensive end T.J. Parker (3) reacts after a play during the second quarter against the Southern Methodist Mustangs in the 2024 ACC Championship game at Bank of America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-Imagn Images
Why he wouldn’t be the first overall pick: Like his teammate Woods, Parker hasn’t shown up to play in September, and the star-studded defensive line’s quiet month led to Clemson’s 1-3 record. NFL teams are going to question why he wasn’t more productive against blockers who aren’t going pro out of Troy, Georgia Tech, and Syracuse.
This article originally appeared on Saints Wire: 2026 NFL draft: Rueben Bain, Caleb Downs could be in play for Saints