Another day, another mock draft for the New Orleans Saints. This is the first one I am doing after a very fun free agency, and things have definetly changed. Adding Travis Etienne fixes RB, David Edwards upgrades the interior offensive line, reduces the need for a guard, and Kaden Elliss adds flexibility so we don’t have to add another LB. The Saints’ free agency class set the team up really well for the draft.
For my second-to-last mock draft of the 2026 NFL Draft, here is how the picks went.
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Round 1, Pick 8 – WR Makai Lemon
Looking at the Saints’ roster, WR and EDGE are the two glaring needs, surrounded by red sirens signaling how important they are to address. Fixing one of them at pick 8 would automatically make day 1 a win for the Saints, and here, there were no EDGEs available, but for WR, Makai Lemon was still on the board. In this scenario, the Saints had the choice of Jordyn Tyson and Lemon (Tate was off the board), but with Tyson’s extensive injury history, Lemon made more sense.
Lemon’s height, which is 5-foot-11, is going to be the main reason Saints fans may be worried about this addition, but he is not a basic small receiver who loses out to any contact. Lemon is actually excellent in contested catch situations; he will put his body on the line to make any play and is extremely hard to tackle after the catch. His YAC ability is something that the Saints are completely missing on their roster, so adding that would be huge. The major issue with Lemon is his flexibility in the offense, and he will probably be a primary slot receiver, but that’s perfectly fine. Lemon is also such a clutch WR that any QB, especially Tyler Shough, can rely upon.
Round 1, Pick 31 (Trade) – EDGE T.J. Parker
TRADE TIME!
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By going WR at 8, New Orleans still needed to address EDGE, and there was one still available at the back of the first round. In this deal, the Saints send #42, #73, and #132 to the New England Patriots for #31 and #95. Still having two top-100 picks was key in this move, and they got it done.
Now at pick 31, Clemson EDGE T.J. Parker is the clear choice. Yes, the Saints could have hoped Parker would drop more, but that was doubtful, and now they get a 5th-year option attached to him. Parker entered the season as one of the top players in the NFL Draft, but a quiet 2025 caused him to slip. He was asked about this at the Senior Bowl (which, as we know, is somewhere the Saints love to select from), and he talked about how much attention opposing offenses were giving him. He may not have the 2025 production, but he has the skills to be an excellent EDGE in the NFL.
Parker is really good at setting the edge against the run, and in pass rush, he can win with major power. Also, Parker can be an ideal OLB in Brandon Staley’s scheme, being able to drop in coverage and move throughout the defensive line. Also, has a little above 33-inch arms.
Round 3, Pick 95 (Trade) – CB Malik Muhammad
With the other pick of the trade, the Saints need to target a CB, and an excellent option is still on the board. Texas CB Malik Muhammad really makes too much sense as a pick for New Orleans for me to even see them using a future pick to trade up from here and secure him. His ability to read the QB and know exactly when to break on the play makes him an excellent fit in zone coverage, and he is also good in man coverage. He is also fine at tackling, which has been a major flaw for many CBs coming into the NFL.
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For the Saints, Muhammad will go immediately on the outside, which would push McKinstry or Riley into the slot. Usually, I’m not someone who likes playing the rookie CB right away, but the Saints’ Passing Game Coordinator, Terry Joseph, coached Muhammad for two seasons at Texas. So, the familiarity aspect could allow a quicker transition to the NFL.
Round 4, Pick 136 – OG Jaeden Roberts
With it being day 3, this is when the Saints can start adressing some of their depth, and get potential surprise starting options. Right away, the Saints need to find an offensive lineman to put behind Cesar Ruiz and battle with him during camp. Looking at the available options, that will be Alabama’s Jaeden Roberts. First with measurables, Roberts is 6-foot-5 and has a bit over 33-inch arms. I believe this will be a big plus for the Saints, and it’s very similar to the measurements of the Saints’ new LG, Edwards.
Roberts is not going to be the athletic prospect the Saints usually like, but his strength could fit well in Kellen Moore’s scheme. Like any prospect on day 3, development is key for Roberts, but learning from Edwards could do wonders for that.
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Round 5, Pick 150 – LB Kendal Daniels
LB is the next position to address, and the Saints take a very high-potential player here. At Oklahoma, Kendal Daniels has been a contributor on defense since his freshman year, and he has made some of the hardest-hitting plays in all of college football. Daniels has a scary ability to read the offense, which allows him to completely blow up their plays.
In coverage, Daniels is also really good, which adds some flexibility for a DC to move him around a defense. Weirdly, eventhough he has the ideal size for an LB, he struggles in tackling, which he needs to get better at. But if he can get better at that, Daniels can be a really good starter in the NFL.
Round 5, Pick 172 – TE Matthew Hibner
And back to offense. The Saints have done too much work at TE to not select one somewhere, and with this class being deep, they can easily do that on day 3.
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SMU’s Matthew Hibner is an excellent blocker, has impressive speed, can make impressive catches, and can make big plays happen when he gets the ball. Hibner is exactly what the Saints need at TE and will fight for snaps right away. At this point, I could even see the Saints trade up for him.
Round 6, Pick 190 – EDGE Vincent Anthony Jr.
With the last pick of the mock draft, the Saints really could have gone with a couple of different positions. Although I do believe a nose tackle would be great here, EDGE Vincent Anthony Jr. was still on the board, and he would upgrade the Saints’ depth right away. He’s a very high effort player and can have some good wins in pass rush. That isn’t consistent yet, and his run defense is the same way, but Anthony Jr. is 6-foot-6 and has over 34-inch arms. This is a bet the Saints should take.