Keep track of the latest NFL mock drafts to find out which prospects the experts think the New Orleans Saints will pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. Part of the Saints Path to the Draft presented by Cox.
Saints Mock Drafts for 2026 NFL Draft
Out of 39 mock drafts tracked from March 9 - March 15, edge and wide receiver were tied for the most frequently mocked position to the New Orleans Saints in the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft. Rueben Bain Jr., Carnell Tate, and David Bailey were the most mocked players to the Saints this week, with Makai Lemon and Jeremiyah Love still very much in the running.
| Player | 3/9-3/15 | 3/2-3/8 | Pre-Combine | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rueben Bain Jr. (Edge, Miami) | 11 | 4 | 9 | 13 |
| Carnell Tate (WR, Ohio State) | 10 | 23 | 29 | 53 |
| David Bailey (Edge, Texas Tech) | 4 | 3 | 12 | 19 |
| Makai Lemon (WR, USC) | 4 | 7 | 20 | 31 |
| Jeremiyah Love (RB, Notre Dame) | 4 | 13 | 51 | 68 |
| Caleb Downs (S, Ohio State) | 3 | 1 | 3 | 7 |
| Sonny Styles (LB, Ohio State) | 2 | 0 | 6 | 8 |
| Jordyn Tyson (WR, Arizona St.) | 1 | 4 | 35 | 40 |
| Mansoor Delane (CB, LSU) | 0 | 3 | 3 | 6 |
| Jermod McCoy (CB, Tennessee) | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Keldric Faulk (Edge, Auburn)) | 0 | 0 | 3 | 3 |
| Peter Woods (DT, Clemson) | 0 | 0 | 3 | 3 |
| Arvell Reese (Edge, Ohio State) | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Caleb Banks (DT, Florida) | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Cashius Howell (Edge, Texas A&M) | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Francis Mauigoa (OT, Miami) | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Spencer Fano (OT, Utah) | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
These are the positions NFL draft analysts most commonly mock to the Saints with their 1st round selection in the 2026 NFL Draft.
| Position | 3/9-3/15 | 3/2-3/8 | Pre-Combine | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Edge | 15 | 7 | 26 | 48 |
| WR | 15 | 34 | 84 | 133 |
| RB | 4 | 13 | 51 | 68 |
| S | 3 | 1 | 3 | 7 |
| LB | 2 | 0 | 6 | 8 |
| CB | 0 | 4 | 3 | 7 |
| DT | 0 | 0 | 4 | 4 |
| OT/OG | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 |
Top 3 Most Mocked Players to Saints (March 9 - March 15)
1. Rueben Bain Jr., Edge, Miami
Times Mocked to Saints (3/9-3/15): 11 (24 Total)
Experts Who Mocked Rueben Bain Jr. to the Saints
"Hats off to the New Orleans Saints thus far. Adding Noah Fant, Travis Etienne, and David Edwards in free agency are great moves to help get the most out of Tyler Shough in what could be a breakout season in year two. Shough and the Saints won four of their final five games in 2025 and also saw some notable improvements defensively. The Saints stay put at pick eight and take Rueben Bain Jr, and while his length is a concern, he's also simply a top prospect and a good football player, so in a few years, we might look back at Bain and wonder how so many people simply overthought this prospect. New Orleans could make teams look silly for passing him up." -Scataglia
"Bain is one of the most disruptive pass rushers in the class, winning with explosive first-step quickness and natural leverage. He plays with relentless energy and consistently collapses the pocket, making life uncomfortable for opposing quarterbacks. The Saints add another young piece to a defensive front that is in the middle of a transition." -Flowers
"The New Orleans Saints were one of those franchises that were presumed to draft RB Jeremiyah Love, WR Jordyn Tyson, or Carnell Tate. But after signing Travis Etienne and still having Alvin Kamara in the fold, RB is not a heavy need anymore. And with the top two receivers off the board, the Saints' front office decided to pivot. Rueben Bain Jr. is a physically dominant player with a high motor who should step in immediately and begin to look like the future go-to player on this defense to get sacks." -Sanchez
"Note taker, grudge holder and block destructor with a compact frame and defensive tackle play strength. Bain is ill-tempered with his take-ons, hitting blockers with heavy hand strikes. He plays through tight ends and can anchor against tackles and double teams. However, his lack of length can lead to him being smothered if he doesn't land the first strike. He can bend and flip his hips at the top of the rush, swipe away punches and generate a strong bull rush. His playoff run showed an ability to generate quick wins if tackles are passive in setting to him. He can rush off the edge or mismatch guards as a sub-package rusher. Bain's explosive power and toughness should translate, giving him a high floor as an NFL starter."
2. Carnell Tate, WR, Ohio State
Times Mocked to Saints (3/9-3/15): 10 (62 Total)
Experts Who Mocked Carnell Tate to the Saints
"Though there have been some splashes, such as Travis Etienne, for the Saints in free agency, they have left the door still wide open for the draft. New Orleans can pretty comfortably just take the best player available who makes sense, and that's clearly Carnell Tate. With Chris Olave's health concerns and the emergence of Tyler Shough, we have seen the Saints already start to invest around their young QB. A versatile, sure-handed receiver would be a great next step in that plight." -Williams
"The New Orleans Saints seemingly have their quarterback spot answered for the moment. Now, it's about building the infrastructure around him...The best wideout in the draft won't hurt. Carnell Tate's 4.53-second 40-yard dash wasn't ideal, but we've seen many route technicians like Keenan Allen and CeeDee Lamb run in the 4.5s. Tate's hands, body control at the catch point, and sideline footwork are magic. With fewer injury concerns than Jordyn Tyson, he's likely the first wide receiver off the board." -Swaim
"If New Orleans can build on the solid offensive framework instituted in Year 1 under Kellen Moore, the team could be a legitimate worst-to-first threat in the lackluster NFC South. Getting there, however, will no doubt entail equipping promising second-year signal-caller Tyler Shough with more firepower...Tate, a fellow former Buckeyes wideout, should slide in nicely to Moore's scheme thanks to his precision and penchant for working back to the ball." -Middlehurst-Schwartz
"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 (3/9-3/15): 4 (19 Total)
Experts Who Mocked David Bailey to the Saints
"The Saints spent most of their efforts this past week leveling up the offensive side of the ball for young quarterback Tyler Shough. Noah Fant, David Edwards, and Travis Etienne are all nice additions on paper. Kaden Elliss was tabbed at linebacker; he can help the pass rush as well as playing off the ball. But another horse to rush off the edge is sorely needed behind Chase Young and Carl Granderson. Bailey is exactly that." -Crabbs
"Adding another pass catcher for Tyler Shough would be nice, but finding a game-wrecker off the edge is at the top of the New Orleans Saints' to-do list. David Bailey will enter the NFL after posting 14.5 sacks at Texas Tech last year, indicating he has what it takes to succeed at the highest level. With Bain and Reese off the board, this is an easy pick. While Bailey isn't the consensus EDGE1 in this class, there's certainly a world where he emerges as the top pass rusher from this group."
"The Saints were a possible Jeremiyah Love team, but with the signing of Travis Etienne, they can focus on the needs. Bailey has an elite first step, that advanced pass-rush arsenal, a high motor, and he's versatile." -Zeeb
"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."
