2026 mock draft roundup: Who do Saints pick after falling to No. 7?

[ASFN Admin]

Who could the New Orleans Saints pick after sliding down from No. 3 overall to No. 7 after winning a couple of games? Our stance has been clear -- it doesn't matter exactly where the Saints pick in the 2026 NFL draft so long as rookie quarterback Tyler Shough is doing more and more to look like he's the right guy moving forwards. But the draft will get here, like it or not, and it's worth knowing which players could be available. And who could be a fit for New Orleans.

With that in mind, we've rounded up the latest wave of mock drafts from around the NFL media landscape to see which prospects are being linked to the Saints. There isn't much consensus:

Bucs Wire: DT Peter Woods, Clemson​

The Saints' defense needs a dominant presence in the middle to strengthen things up. They have swung and missed in years past, so why not swing again? Peter Woods is a monster in the middle, built in the same way that Dexter Lawrence is, and the Saints need that as they look to build this roster up.

CBS Sports: EDGE David Bailey, Texas Tech​

Bailey is a twitched-up athlete who can hunt quarterbacks. His 13.5 sacks led all Power Four defenders this fall. The Saints defense has turned a leaf from the Dennis Allen era and could use more speed off the edge instead of power.

SB Nation: WR Jordyn Tyson, Arizona State​

Has Tyler Shough done enough to win the job?

That might be an open question, but in keeping with the overall theme of this mock, the Saints might need to pivot to a different position in this spot. Instead of drafting Shough’s replacement, they give him some help in Jordyn Tyson, an explosive wide receiver who has aligned both in the slot and along the boundary for Arizona State. His best traits might be when the ball is in his hands after the catch, but he showed the ability to win routes early in the down, even against press-aligned defenders.

Athlon Sports: S Caleb Downs, Ohio State​

When in doubt, just draft the best player in the entire class. That’s what the Saints should do here, as Downs can make a strong a case for that title as any other player on the board. Positional value could keep him out of the top five, but his rare blend of athleticism, intelligence, instincts and versatility could immediately transform the entire New Orleans defense overnight. If that’s not worth a top-10 pick, I don’t know what is.

Pro Football Focus: LB Arvell Reese, Ohio State​

The Saints desperately need a young cornerstone in their front seven, with linebacker Demario Davis and edge defender Cameron Jordan nearing the ends of their careers. They find one here in Reese, a versatile defender capable of playing both linebacker and edge, similar to last year’s first-round selections Abdul Carter and Jalon Walker. Reese’s eight sacks are tied for fourth among all linebackers nationally, and he’s paired that production with an impressive 84.5 PFF run-defense grade.

The Draft Network: EDGE Rueben Bain Jr., Miami​

Rueben Bain Jr. got off to a blazing start but finished the season with much quieter box scores—thanks, in part, to facing a high amount of double-teams. Still, he was incredibly disruptive all year long and has a chance to put an exclamation mark on his season in the College Football Playoff. Bain Jr. can play all over the defensive line and is a defensive cornerstone for the New Orleans Saints to build around.

Bleacher Nation: EDGE Rueben Bain Jr., Miami​

Given how loaded next year’s class appears to be at quarterback and how much help their roster needs all over, I think the Saints would choose to address a position other than quarterback and give Tyler Shough some time on the job. Bain is arguably the top EDGE in the draft and can help that defense right away.

This article originally appeared on Saints Wire: 2026 mock draft roundup: Who do Saints pick after falling to No. 7?

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