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 54 mock drafts tracked from March 16 - March 22, wide receiver was the most frequently mocked position to the New Orleans Saints in the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft, followed closely by edge rusher.
Carnell Tate, Rueben Bain Jr., and David Bailey were the most mocked players to the Saints this week, with Mansoor Delane, Makai Lemon, and Jordyn Tyson also appearing on a lot of Saints mock drafts. See the most commonly mocked players to the Saints in the later rounds.
| Player | 3/16-3/22 | 3/9-3/15 | 3/2-3/8 | Pre-Combine | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carnell Tate (WR, Ohio State) | 11 | 10 | 23 | 29 | 73 |
| Rueben Bain Jr. (Edge, Miami) | 8 | 11 | 4 | 9 | 32 |
| David Bailey (Edge, Texas Tech) | 8 | 4 | 3 | 12 | 27 |
| Mansoor Delane (CB, LSU) | 7 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 13 |
| Makai Lemon (WR, USC) | 6 | 4 | 7 | 20 | 37 |
| Jordyn Tyson (WR, Arizona St.) | 5 | 1 | 4 | 35 | 45 |
| Sonny Styles (LB, Ohio State) | 3 | 2 | 0 | 6 | 11 |
| Caleb Downs (S, Ohio State) | 2 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 9 |
| Keldric Faulk (Edge, Auburn)) | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 4 |
| Jermod McCoy (CB, Tennessee) | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| Kenyon Sadiq (TE, Oregon) | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Jeremiyah Love (RB, Notre Dame) | 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 | 3/16-3/22 | 3/9-3/15 | 3/2-3/8 | Pre-Combine | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| WR | 22 | 15 | 34 | 84 | 155 |
| Edge | 17 | 15 | 7 | 26 | 65 |
| CB | 8 | 0 | 4 | 3 | 15 |
| LB | 3 | 2 | 0 | 6 | 11 |
| S | 2 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 9 |
| DT | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 5 |
| TE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| RB | 0 | 4 | 13 | 51 | 68 |
| OT/OG | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 |
Top 3 Most Mocked Players to Saints (March 16 - March 22)
1. Carnell Tate, WR, Ohio State
Times Mocked to Saints (3/16-3/22): 11 (73 Total)
Experts Who Mocked Carnell Tate to the Saints
"The Saints provide Tyler Shough with a dynamic secondary target to pair with Chris Olave. Tate is a smooth route runner who caught nine touchdowns and averaged a massive 17.2 yards per reception in 2025. New Orleans ranked 21st in explosive pass plays last year, and Tate's ability to win at all three levels addresses that lack of verticality. He gives the Saints a reliable weapon in high-leverage red-zone situations where the team has struggled to finish drives." -De Lima
"The Saints' main signings have come on offense -- guard David Edwards and running back Travis Etienne Jr. -- and that's also where I'd expect them to look during the draft. They need to surround second-year quarterback Tyler Shough with as much talent as possible, and the No. 2 wide receiver on the roster is Devaughn Vele (25 receptions last season). Tate brings a well-rounded scouting report, with solid route running and the ability to come down with tough catches thanks to his hands and body control. He'd be great opposite Chris Olave -- yet another excellent receiver to come out of Ohio State in recent years." -Kiper
"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."
T-2nd. Rueben Bain Jr., Edge, Miami
Times Mocked to Saints (3/16-3/22): 8 (32 Total)
Experts Who Mocked Rueben Bain Jr. to the Saints
"The Saints look like they could truly be one of the more interesting NFC teams in 2026, and getting a playmaker for the defensive line like Rueben Bain could help take them to the next level. Bain was a mainstay in the top five picks of most 2026 NFL mock draft predictions for a long time, but some question marks have arisen about his length and where he will ultimately land positionally at the next level. We'll let Brandon Staley worry about that." -Bedinger
"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
"Bain's lack of ideal length is real, and it will scare off some teams. But the résumé, disruption, and polish are also real." -Brown
"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."
T-2nd. David Bailey, Edge, Texas Tech
Times Mocked to Saints (3/16-3/22): 8 (27 Total)
Experts Who Mocked David Bailey to the Saints
"Whether Cam Jordan returns or not, the Saints need a pass-rush boost heading into 2026. Bailey is regarded as one of, if not the best, pass-rushers in the draft class. Highly productive in college (14.5 sacks in 2025), Bailey is a big (6-foot-4), explosive athlete (4.5 40 time) who has NFL execs drooling over his pro potential." -Buller-Russ
"If the Saints can get Bailey at the eighth spot, they're going to be ecstatic. Bailey is projected as a possible top-three pick in this year's Draft, and would be an instant spark plug on the New Orleans defense." -Erzberger
"The New Orleans Saints...spent premium resources on offense by signing running back Travis Etienne Jr. and guard David Edwards. It's trending towards them using this pick on defense. David Bailey ran a 4.50 in the 40-yard dash, the fastest recorded time of any pure pass rusher. Bailey also leaped a 35 inch vertical and 10-foot-9 broad. The speedy EDGE wins with athleticism and straightline explosion." -Melo
"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."
4. Mansoor Delane, CB, LSU
Times Mocked to Saints (3/16-3/22): 7 (13 Total)
Experts Who Mocked Mansoor Delane to the Saints
"Outside of adding linebacker Kaden Elliss, the big money spent in free agency for New Orleans was focused on offense (guard David Edwards and running back Travis Etienne). The Saints have lost some good corners to free agency over the last few years, but they restock at this position quite well. Delane can thrive in any coverage, but it was notable how dominant he was playing man. His quick feet, route recognition and physicality at the catch point should translate at a high level in the NFL." -Rogers
"With a huge need at the position following the departure of Alontae Taylor, the Saints could solve it by bringing in a guy who's right up the road. Almost certainly the premier corner available this year, the 6-foot, 187-pound All-America has lockdown ability and might even be able to eat up some of Taylor's snaps in the slot – though Delane was rarely used there at Virginia Tech and LSU." -USA Today Staff
