NEW ORLEANS (WVUE) – Saints General Manager Mickey Loomis is scheduled to meet with reporters at noon Wednesday as New Orleans prepares for the first round in the 2026 NFL Draft. The Saints enter the draft with the No. 8 overall pick and eight total selections. <\/p>\n
A roundup of national mock drafts published last week found five different projected first-round outcomes for New Orleans, including Ohio State wide receiver Carnell Tate, Ohio State EDGE Arvell Reese in a projected trade-up, Miami EDGE Ruben Bain Jr., Texas Tech EDGE David Bailey and LSU cornerback Mansoor Delane. <\/p>\n
Read more: Who will the Saints select at No. 8 overall, mock drafts point to five different players<\/a><\/p>\n That uncertainty has only added to the spotlight on Loomis\u2019 pre-draft comments, even if teams typically reveal little before the board opens. His annual availability often helps frame how the Saints view their roster, whether they are comfortable staying at No. 8 and how much urgency they feel at certain positions.<\/p>\n Fox 8 Sports\u2019 Sean Fazende is projecting<\/a> the Saints to take LSU cornerback Mansoor Delane with the eighth overall pick. Fazende says that Delane would be the best cornerback in the class and noted New Orleans has not drafted a cornerback in the first round since taking Marshon Lattimore in 2017. <\/p>\n Fazende\u2019s full seven-round projection also had the Saints addressing wide receiver, offensive line, linebacker, tight end, running back, edge and safety, reflecting just how many areas could be in play as the team works through this draft. <\/p>\n Read more: Fazende: Saints mock draft 3.0<\/a><\/p>\n New Orleans currently holds picks No. 8, 42, 73, 132, 136, 150, 172 and 190. The first round begins Thursday, followed by Rounds 2 and 3 on Friday and Rounds 4 through 7 on Saturday. <\/p>\n See a spelling or grammar error in our story? Click Here<\/a> to report it. Please include the headline.<\/p>\n