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New Orleans Saints

NFC NFC South

Draft Needs

Priority Position Level Target Round Notes
1 WR CRITICAL Round 1 Traded Rashid Shaheed at the deadline; receiving corps is thin with QB Tyler Shough needing proven pass catchers; two WR spots are listed as high-priority needs by multiple analysts
2 EDGE HIGH Round 2 Cameron Jordan (36, 10.5 sacks in 2025) is a free agent at age 37; Demario Davis also departed (to NYJ); Cameron Jordan's replacement is urgently needed on the defensive line
3 DT HIGH Round 2 Interior defensive line depth needed alongside Jordan's potential departure; run defense requires reinforcement with multiple defensive linemen in contract years
4 OG HIGH Round 3 Two guards listed as priority needs by WalterFootball; interior offensive line must be upgraded to support Tyler Shough's development as the starting QB
5 CB MEDIUM Round 2 Already have Kool-Aid McKinstry and depth at CB but could use an upgrade; Mansoor Delane-type prospect could immediately become CB1 and improve the entire unit
6 LB MEDIUM Round 4 Signed Kaden Elliss ($33M) to shore up linebacker but depth is still needed, especially with Demario Davis gone to NYJ; need a second quality LB to complement Elliss

Draft Strategy

Balanced Approach

This team takes a balanced approach, weighing both player value and team needs. They will take the best player available when the value is clear, but will also factor in positional need when players are similarly rated.

Team Info

New Orleans
City
Saints
Nickname
NFC
Conference
South
Division

2026 Draft Picks

8
Total Picks
1
Round 1
3
Top 3 Rounds
1
Compensatory
Round Pick Overall Type Original Team
Rd 1 8 #8 OWN -
Rd 2 42 #42 OWN -
Rd 3 73 #73 OWN -
Rd 4 132 #132 TRADE SEA
Rd 4 136 #136 COMP -
Rd 5 150 #150 OWN -
Rd 5 172 #172 TRADE SEA
Rd 6 190 #190 OWN -

Needs Summary

1 WR CRITICAL
2 EDGE HIGH
3 DT HIGH
4 OG HIGH
5 CB MEDIUM
6 LB MEDIUM

2026 Offseason Moves

+ Additions

David Edwards OG FREE AGENCY
from FA $15.0M/yr 4yr
John Ridgeway DT FREE AGENCY
from FA $3.1M/yr 2yr
Kaden Elliss LB FREE AGENCY
from ATL $13.0M/yr 3yr
Noah Fant TE FREE AGENCY
from SEA Signed 2-year deal from Seattle Seahawks
Ryan Wright P FREE AGENCY
from MIN $3.5M/yr 4yr
Travis Etienne Jr. RB FREE AGENCY
from JAX $13.0M/yr 4yr

− Losses

Alontae Taylor CB FREE AGENCY
to TEN Signed with Tennessee Titans
Cameron Jordan DE FREE AGENCY
Departed as unrestricted free agent; long-time Saints franchise player
Demario Davis LB FREE AGENCY
to NYJ $11.0M/yr 2yr
Kai Kroeger P TRADE
to HOU Traded to Houston Texans with a 2028 7th-round pick for a 2029 6th-round pick
Luke Fortner C FREE AGENCY
to CAR $4.8M/yr 1yr
Taysom Hill TE FREE AGENCY
Departed as unrestricted free agent