After stringing together a couple of wins in recent weeks, it seems like the New Orleans Saints may not be picking as high in the NFL Draft as it once looked. With the Saints holding the 8th overall pick right now, let’s run through a three-round mock draft.
As things stand, it’s hard to see a world where the Saints try to replace Tyler Shough with someone in next year’s class. The rookie has played exceptionally, even though he was just the 41st overall pick this past year.
Luckily for Shough, this quarterback class is very weak, and he’s played the Saints out of a top-five pick, effectively taking the top-tier QBs off New Orleans’ draft board.
Instead, the Saints will likely fill other holes on this roster that need to be addressed.
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New Orleans Saints 2026 NFL Mock Draft
For this mock draft, we’ll be making picks in a realistic (predictive of what the Saints will do) sense on the PFF Mock Draft Simulator. For reference, the Saints have the 8th, 40th, and 72nd overall picks in the first three rounds of this draft.
First-Round Pick (8th Overall): Carnell Tate, WR, Ohio State
If Carnell Tate makes it to the Saints at No. 8, it seems like they would have to take him here. Tate should easily be a top-10 pick in this class, and there aren’t many options that are significantly better.
At this point in the mock draft, Arvell Reese, Fernando Mendoza, Rueben Bain Jr., Dante Moore, Jeremiyah Love, Jordyn Tyson, and Caleb Downs were all off the board.
Sticking to the theme of deciding to build around Shough, or at least getting more talent, Tate makes perfect sense, given the available options.
Outside of Chris Olave, who’s elite, the Saints don’t have any other weapons. Ideally, the Saints keep Olave, but he is a free agent in 2027 and has a history of concussions.
Tate has the upside to be a WR1 in the NFL with his 6’3” and 195-pound frame, but he’s also shown he can be an elite WR2, having played next to Jeremiah Smith.
Second-Round Pick (40th Overall): Matayo Uiagalelei Edge, Oregon
The Saints desperately need an edge rusher who can get after the quarterback while also being a solid run defender. Matayo Uiagalelei fits that mold very well.
Uiagalelei is a player that I’ve mocked to a few different teams, as he could be a popular target in the second round. It seems like he’s going to be the top edge on the board at this stage of the draft for any team that needs pass-rush help.
Looking at the Saints in particular, Chase Young has been playing well this year, but Carl Granderson, who’s 29 years old, could absolutely be replaced.
Third-Round Pick (72nd Overall): Taurean York, LB, Texas A&M
For a defense that desperately needs help, taking Taurean York as the best player available in the third round makes perfect sense.
York comes in at 5’10” and 227 lbs, which is slightly undersized for the position. However, there’s going to be a number of teams that would love to take York here.
York had a phenomenal PFF coverage grade this past year at 89.8, his run defense grade was a solid 74.1, while his pass rush grade wasn’t as great at 63.1.
Regardless, York seems like he could be a high-floor kind of starter, which would help the Saints a ton. With Demario Davis now being 36 years old, York could come in and replace him or Pete Werner in 2026.