Saints Mock Drafts for 2026 NFL Draft
Out of 42 mock drafts tracked from March 30 - April 5, edge rusher was the most frequently mocked position to the New Orleans Saints in the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft, followed closely by wide receiver.
Rueben Bain Jr. was the most mocked player to the Saints this week with Carnell Tate, David Bailey, Makai Lemon, Mansoor Delane, Sonny Styles, and Caleb Downs also appearing on a lot of Saints mock drafts. See the most commonly mocked players to the Saints in the later rounds.
| Player | 3/30-4/5 | 3/23-3/29 | 3/16-3/22 | 3/9-3/15 | 3/2-3/8 | Pre-Combine | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rueben Bain Jr. (Edge, Miami) | 12 | 7 | 8 | 11 | 4 | 9 | 51 |
| Carnell Tate (WR, Ohio State) | 9 | 9 | 11 | 10 | 23 | 29 | 91 |
| David Bailey (Edge, Texas Tech) | 7 | 9 | 8 | 4 | 3 | 12 | 43 |
| Makai Lemon (WR, USC) | 5 | 5 | 6 | 4 | 7 | 20 | 47 |
| Mansoor Delane (CB, LSU) | 4 | 8 | 7 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 25 |
| Sonny Styles (LB, Ohio State) | 3 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 6 | 16 |
| Caleb Downs (S, Ohio State) | 2 | 5 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 16 |
| Jordyn Tyson (WR, Arizona St.) | 0 | 6 | 5 | 1 | 4 | 35 | 51 |
| Jeremiyah Love (RB, Notre Dame) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 13 | 51 | 68 |
These are the positions NFL draft analysts most commonly mock to the Saints with their 1st round pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.
| Position | 3/30-4/5 | 3/23-3/29 | 3/16-3/22 | 3/9-3/15 | 3/2-3/8 | Pre-Combine | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Edge | 19 | 16 | 17 | 15 | 7 | 26 | 65 |
| WR | 14 | 21 | 22 | 15 | 34 | 84 | 155 |
| CB | 4 | 8 | 8 | 0 | 4 | 3 | 15 |
| LB | 3 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 6 | 11 |
| S | 2 | 5 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 9 |
| RB | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 13 | 51 | 68 |
| DT | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 5 |
| OT/OG | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| TE | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
Top 3 Most Mocked Players to Saints (March 30 - April 5)
1. Rueben Bain Jr., Edge, Miami
Times Mocked to Saints (3/30-4/5): 12 (51 Total)
Experts Who Mocked Mansoor Delane to the Saints
"The Saints' defensive line [had] a pressure rate of just 18.4% (28th in the NFL) while allowing 4.6 yards per carry. Bain's game is built on relentless, crippling power. He led the nation with 83 total QB pressures in his final collegiate season. He possesses heavy hands and a devastating bull rush, making him a safe, high-floor anchor for the New Orleans defensive line." -De Lima
"One of the most physically imposing edge defenders in the draft, Bain brings a combination of length, power, and burst that gives offensive linemen fits. He was incredibly disruptive at Miami with a pressure rate that was among the best in the country. Plus, he has the frame to add functional strength without losing quickness. New Orleans has prioritized getting after the quarterback, and Ruben Bain Jr. is exactly the kind of player who accelerates that effort." -Flowers
"The Saints are in best player available mode. Bain falls into their lap at pick eight after rough measurements at the combine cause a slip. Teams draft players based on measurables and fit and Bain fits exactly what this new era Saints are looking for in a pass rusher. Bain is coming off a great season with the Miami Hurricanes and his film speaks for itself. If Bain does fall out of the top five, a team is getting a steal in the first round of this draft." -Szarzynski
2. Carnell Tate, WR, Ohio State
Times Mocked to Saints (3/30-4/5): 9 (91 Total)
Experts Who Mocked Carnell Tate to the Saints
"The more I think about it, the more I can't escape the notion that the Saints are going to make their best effort early in the draft to help out the future around Tyler Shough. Carnell Tate is as sure of a bet as you'll find in terms of wide receiver help, versatile in his ability to move around and win at different levels of the field. He'll greatly help the cause in the Big Easy." -Williams
"Carnell Tate is the heavy favorite to be the first receiver taken. His skill set is one that accompanies many of the league's best receivers. Reliable hands, great separation, and good IQ to know when to sit down in coverage. Tate had just a three percent drop rate through his college career. He would give Tyler Shough a true number one opposite of Chris Olave." -North
"The Saints badly need receiving help, along with defensive line and cornerback upgrades, and Tate fills one of those holes with a polished, quarterback-friendly skill set. He gets open in ways that translate, and that matters a lot more than winning the Underwear Olympics by a tenth of a second. Tate's tape says he is fast enough. He should pair nicely with another former Buckeye, Chris Olave, and could become a high-volume NFL target in time." -Brown
"Ascending "Z" receiver who continues to step out from the shadow of Ohio State teammate Jeremiah Smith. Tate has good size but would benefit from more play strength. He builds momentum quickly on intermediate and deep routes, utilizing speed and tempo to pressure cornerbacks. He can win over the top on verticals or separate over the first two levels with route savvy and separation burst. Tate tracks throws at top speed and makes his adjustments to run under them. He combines timing, body control and catch radius to dominate air space and consistently lands on the winning side of contested catches. Pass catching comes effortlessly with soft, strong hands and he consistently works back on throws to keep ballhawks from hawking. Tate displays rare polish for a player his age and has the talent to become a heralded pro within his first three seasons."
3. David Bailey, Edge, Texas Tech
Times Mocked to Saints (3/30-4/5): 7 (43 Total)
Experts Who Mocked David Bailey to the Saints
"Enter the dynamite Bailey and his game-wrecking skillset. Eighth overall does have the feel of a bloated evaluation, but it is hard to ignore the impact he made in 2025, stringing together reps that have been present on his film even before his time at Texas Tech. He will inject some juice and some life into this New Orleans Saints' pass rush, along with the future-proofing his addition provides." -Randall
"The New Orleans Saints replenish the cupboard by adding Texas Tech EDGE David Bailey. Bailey is a bit undersized at 6-foot-3 and 251 pounds, but his explosiveness simply can't be taught. He has double-digit sack potential at his peak." -Foote
""The New Orleans Saints have one of the top sleeper rosters in the NFL heading into the 2026 season. If Tyler Shough can continue to take steps forward as a player, this team could genuinely be dangerous in the NFC South. And they'd be even more dangerous with a pass rusher like David Bailey bringing the heat off the edge." -Bedinger
"Bailey is extremely hard for linemen to stay in front of. He moves like a slashing two guard, blending explosiveness and fluidity to slip, bend and flow around blocks from multiple angles. His leverage and lower-body flexion create game-over scenarios once he reaches pocket depth with even a minor lead. He can be stalled when a blocker latches his hands in deep, but Bailey's elusiveness and suddenness make clean clamps a relative rarity. He's instinctive with natural mid-rush counters, but he must continue developing hand usage and crafting rush plans for when protection shifts his way. Teams can run at Bailey due to his lack of anchor and take-on presence, but his work-around quickness will also lead to tackles for loss. His draft grade is slightly tempered by a lack of desired size/length, but the explosiveness and athletic talent is truly elite. His sack production should carry over to the NFL as an odd-front rush linebacker with Pro Bowl upside."
More Saints 1st Round mock draft projections
4. Makai Lemon (WR, USC) — 5 Total Mocked
5. Mansoor Delane (CB, LSU) — 4 Total Mocked
6. Sonny Styles (LB, Ohio State) — 3 Total Mocked
7. Caleb Downs (S, Ohio State) — 2 Total Mocked
Top 10 Most Mocked Day 2 & 3 Players to the Saints
1. Chris Bell (Wide Receiver, Louisville) - 9 mocked
- Staff (ESPN) - 4/2/2026
- Cody Zeeb (Sports Gambling Podcast) - 3/31/2026
- Staff (A To Z Sports) - 3/27/2026
- Jacob Infante (Pro Football Network) - 3/25/2026
- Jared Feinberg (Sports Illustrated) - 3/21/2026
- T.J. Randall (Pro Football Network) - 3/21/2026
- Chad Reuter (NFL.com) - 3/20/2026
- Staff (USA Today) - 3/16/2026
- Jacob Infante (Pro Football Network) - 1/31/2026
