Feb. 26, 2026, 10:48 a.m. CT

Positional value is a topic of hot debate surrounding every NFL draft, but especially in 2026. This year’s class is headlined by Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza — who may not have been the first overall pick in recent years, but whose status as the most pro-ready QB is rocketing him to the top of the board. Teams may see more talent in guys like Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love and Ohio State safety Caleb Downs, but you don’t see many running backs and safeties go top-10 these days. Certainly not first overall. Those positions just aren’t valued as heavily as they once were.

So it isn’t too surprising to see reports like this one from Charlie Campbell at Walter Football, who said the Saints “love” Downs and “also really like” Love, which makes sense. Those are nearly consensus choices for the two best players in the entire 2026 draft class even though a quarterback and a couple of pass rushers are expected to be picked ahead of them. Campbell added: “However, there is a good chance that Downs is off the board by the time the Saints are picking. He could easily go in the top seven as Downs is one of the best prospects in the draft, regardless of position.”

As for Love? Campbell shared that “Sources with the Saints say they have a starter grade and view Love as a true first-round pick. However, they are questioning if they are in love with him enough to take him with the eighth-overall pick. They said that is still being worked through.”

One of the worst-kept secrets every year is that there’s never 32 prospects with first-round grades. Depending on the depth of a class there could be half that, and this year, it’s being said that even fewer players are seen as real first rounders. Many of the same prospects could be considered at No. 20 as at No. 60. If the Saints only have five or six first-round grades on their board, and Love is one of them, it really whittles down their list of options.

But this may say more about other prospects than Love himself. Maybe the Saints have to do more homework on, for example, Arizona State wide receiver Jordyn Tyson or Ohio State linebacker Sonny Styles (among others) to see if they’re worth drafting ahead of Love. It’s exactly the kind of intrigue and speculation that fuels draft season. We’ll be looking for clarity in the months ahead.

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