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.
Pre-Combine Saints Mock Drafts for 2026 NFL Draft
Out of 179 pre-Combine mock drafts tracked, wide receiver emerged as the most frequently mocked position to the New Orleans Saints in the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft, followed by running back and edge rusher. With the NFL Scouting Combine finishing today, next week's edition will show how on-field testing and medical evaluations affect the expert projections.
| Player | # of times mocked |
|---|---|
| Jeremiyah Love (RB, Notre Dame) | 51 |
| Jordyn Tyson (WR, Arizona St.) | 35 |
| Carnell Tate (WR, Ohio State) | 29 |
| Makai Lemon (WR, USC) | 20 |
| David Bailey (Edge, Texas Tech) | 12 |
| Rueben Bain Jr. (Edge, Miami) | 9 |
| Sonny Styles (LB, Ohio State) | 6 |
| Peter Woods (DT, Clemson) | 3 |
| Mansoor Delane (CB, LSU) | 3 |
| Caleb Downs (S, Ohio State) | 3 |
Based on the same set of pre-Combine projections, these are the positions NFL draft analysts most commonly mocked to the Saints with their 1st round selection in the 2026 NFL Draft.
| Position | # of times mocked |
|---|---|
| WR | 84 |
| RB | 51 |
| Edge | 26 |
| LB | 6 |
| DT | 4 |
| CB | 3 |
| S | 3 |
| OT/OG | 2 |
1. Jeremiyah Love, RB, Notre Dame
Total Times Mocked to Saints: 51
Experts Who Mocked Jeremiyah Love to the Saints
"Adding a dynamic playmaker should help Tyler Shough make a leap in Year 2. Love could spend a season serving as a true apprentice to Alvin Kamara or team with the five-time Pro Bowler to form a formidable 1-2 punch in the Saints' backfield." - Brooks
"Love is a true dual threat (2,497 rushing yards, 55 catches and 40 total TDs over the past two seasons) out of the backfield; Saints fans will, yes, love seeing the Golden Domer in black and gold." - Reuter
- Michael Renner (CBS Sports) - 2/9/2026
- Todd McShay (The McShay Report) - 2/9/2026
- Michael Middlehurst-Schwartz (USA Today) - 2/9/2026
- Staff (Tankathon) - 2/7/2026
- Ayrton Ostly (USA Today) - 2/7/2026
- Lance Zierlein (NFL.com) - 2/2/2026
- Trevor Sikkema (Pro Football Focus) - 2/2/2026
- Matt Miller (ESPN) - 2/2/2026
- Jacob Camenker (USA Today) - 2/2/2026
- Kristopher Knox (Bleacher Report) - 2/1/2026
- Ryan Wilson (CBS Sports) - 2/1/2026
- Eric Edholm (NFL.com) - 1/30/2026
- Daniel Jeremiah (NFL.com) - 1/26/2026
"Three-phase running back capable of stressing defenses with big-play speed and untapped pass-catching value. Love shared carries but was the heartbeat of Notre Dame's offense over the last two years. He runs with a fierce tempo and processes the front with adequate eyes to find entry points and burst through them. Urgency works in his favor, but he'll occasionally miss open lanes when he gets too deep too quickly. Outstanding speed erases pursuit angles to the corner and helps him pull away from tacklers once he opens his gait. He's live-legged with violent cuts in segmented bursts that can elude tacklers but slow his momentum. He's not a pile-mover but he runs through contact and squeezes out extra yards as a committed finisher. He's a talented route runner and pass catcher who can work from the slot and mismatch linebackers. Love is a three-down, scheme-independent player who would benefit from a complementary back to preserve his big-play ability."
Strengths
- Highly productive, with 2,497 yards rushing and 35 touchdowns in the last two seasons.
- Workhorse mentality but only saw 20 or more carries three times during career.
- Urgent but shortens his stride to improve control as a move-maker.
- Instant reacceleration helps him escape rallying defenders.
- Speed to outflank and corner as an outside runner.
- Rockets through interior entry points to stress missed run fits.
Weaknesses
- Slight indecisiveness can slow his departure.
- Probes to find the crease instead of setting one up.
- Cuts and transitions are choppy, sapping his momentum.
- Inconsistent spatial awareness as an inside runner.
- Doesn't feature pile-moving lower-body power.
- Leaves feet and goes airborne too willingly.
2. Jordyn Tyson, WR, Arizona State
Total Times Mocked to Saints: 35
Experts Who Mocked Jordyn Tyson to the Saints
"Tyson tracks the ball exceptionally well in the air and shows great contact balance after the catch to maximize YAC. He has the long speed to beat press coverage and the ability to thrive in the middle of the field and in the red zone. Tyson battled a hamstring injury, and teams will study his medicals closely." - Brockermeyer
"Quarterback Tyler Shough provides the Saints with plenty of hope going forward. Tyson would be a huge addition to Kellen Moore's offense. At 6-foot-2 and 200 pounds, Tyson is electric with the ball in his hands. He totaled 29 catches, 444 yards and three touchdowns in the final three games he played in 2024 before being knocked out for the season with an injury. His 2025 season was limited by uneven QB play and injuries, but he can be schemed up for as many touches as possible in New Orleans." - Yates
- Nick Baumgardner (The Athletic) - 2/9/2026
- Jared Feinberg (Sports Illustrated) - 2/9/2026
- Max Chadwick (Pro Football Focus) - 2/8/2026
- Sayre Bedinger (NFL Spin Zone) - 2/8/2026
- Brad Menendez (Draft Countdown) - 2/4/2026
- Matty Kiwoom (Player Profiler) - 1/30/2026
- Jack Aaron (Pro Football Network) - 1/29/2026
- Blake Brockermeyer (CBS Sports) - 1/26/2026
- Staff (Fantasy Pros) - 1/23/2026
- Reese Decker (Pro Football Network) - 1/21/2026
- Mel Kiper Jr. (ESPN) - 1/21/2026
"Learning from Super Bowl XL MVP Hines Ward helped unlock Tyson's production and elevated his draft stock. He's added size and improved his route running over the last two years, showing he can align at all three receiver spots. He occasionally rushes the route but has the short-area quickness and contested-catch toughness to find chain-moving grabs in high-leverage moments. He's not a blazer but has enough speed to work down the field. Also, he has the ball skills and body control to win above the rim with timing on 50/50 throws. Scouts say he puts in the time to absorb knowledge and hone his craft. A history of injuries might explain inconsistent competitiveness as a run blocker in 2025. The wiring, versatility and finishing talent point to a WR1 ceiling."
Strengths
- Able to play every receiver spot on the field.
- Plays with ideal suddenness and cut quickness underneath.
- Routes are smooth and manipulative to induce leverage.
- Stems routes suddenly, leaving man coverage temporarily stranded.
- Digs hard on posts to gain ground before looking for the ball.
- Uses off hand to maintain leads and landing zones down the sideline.
Weaknesses
- Focus drops were an issue in 2024.
- Can be impatient and hurry his routes at times.
- Loses momentum on in-breaking routes because of inefficient footwork.
- Long speed and play strength are average.
- Missed games in every season from 2022-2025.
- Suffered knee (2022), collarbone (2024) and hamstring (2025) injuries.
3. Carnell Tate, WR, OhioState
Total Times Mocked to Saints: 29
Experts Who Mocked Carnell Tate to the Saints
"Ohio State Buckeyes wide receiver Carnell Tate is just too special a player for them to go in any other direction. At 6-foot-3, 195 pounds, the Chicago Native brings an element of verticality that this team lost when trading Rashid Shaheed. He's a deep-ball and red-zone threat who thrives in traffic and contested-catch situations. Like Ohio State wide receivers who have come before him, he was never the top pass-catcher on his team, but is a former five-star recruit who totaled 100+ receptions, 1,600+ receiving yards and 13 touchdowns over his past two seasons." - Woolcock
- Lou Scataglia (NFL Spin Zone) - 3/1/2026
- Charles McDonald (Yahoo) - 2/26/2026
- Patrick Flowers (Bleacher Nation) - 2/26/2026
- Keith Sanchez (The Draft Network) - 2/22/2026
- Sayre Bedinger (NFL Spin Zone) - 2/22/2026
- Matt Johnson (Sportsnaut) - 2/21/2026
- Travis May (A To Z Sports) - 2/20/2026
- Charles Davis (NFL.com) - 2/19/2026
"The Saints found their QB in the 2025 draft with the selection of Tyler Shough. Now they give him a big-play threat to play opposite Chris Olave." - Davis
- Pat Fitzmaurice (Fantasy Pros) - 2/19/2026
- Patrick Flowers (Bleacher Nation) - 2/19/2026
- Staff (Yahoo) - 2/19/2026
- Blake Krass (Draft Kings) - 2/16/2026
- Alec Elijah (Pro Football Network) - 2/14/2026
- Dan Par (NFL.com) - 2/12/2026
- Mark Schofield (SB Nation) - 2/9/2026
- Sayre Bedinger (NFL Spin Zone) - 2/3/2026
- Sam Dehring (Sports Illustrated) - 2/1/2026
"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."
Strengths
- Plus agility, speed and body control.
- Slips press and gets into stride quickly for vertical advantage.
- Consistent route runner who leverages defenders out of position.
- Route tempo and play speed overwhelms lesser corners.
- No wasted motion; smooth turnover and a burst to separate.
- Works back on most throws, eliminating playmaking angles for defenders.
Weaknesses
- Lacks ideal build and frame as a WR1 candidate.
- Long press corners can limit some early release advantages.
- Chest/pads rise, giving break clues on stop routes and comebacks.
- Average run block strain by NFL standards.
- Missed three games in 2025 with a calf strain.
