2026 NFL Draft predictions: Who will the Saints pick in Round 1?

Ohio State Buckeyes defensive back Caleb Downs (2) celebrates a sack during the second half of the NCAA football game against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights at Ohio Stadium in Columbus on Nov. 22, 2025. Ohio State won 42-9.

As fun as it would be to grab another wide receiver right now, I think this class is pretty deep. Instead, the Saints grab the best player available and potentially in this entire class in Downs. He'll not only replace Alontae Taylor in the slot, but it won't take long for it to be an absolute upgrade. People overthought Kyle Hamilton and gifted the Ravens one of the best safeties in the league. The NFL should not make that mistake again. -- Dylan Sanders

Rueben Bain Jr., EDGE, Miami

TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA - OCTOBER 4: Rueben Bain Jr. #4 of the Miami Hurricanes pressures Tommy Castellanos #1 of the Florida State Seminoles during the fourth quarter of the game at Doak S. Campbell Stadium on October 4, 2025 in Tallahassee, Florida. (Photo by Jason Clark/Getty Images)

You can certainly see the logic behind the Saints choosing a wide receiver or even a cornerback in the first round. It would also be awfully tempting to grab a Caleb Downs or Sonny Styles if still on the board. If one of the top pass rushers like Bain is still on the board, however, I think he's the pick because there seems to be more draft depth at both receiver and corner. Rueben Bain provides New Orleans the replacement for the legendary Cameron Jordan, which needs to happen whether Jordan comes back or not. He'll provide both a pass rush to complement Chase Young on the edge, but also underrated run defense. Receiver and likely cornerback can both be addressed later out of deeper positions, while Bain checks off a major defensive need. -- Bob Rose

The Saints should (and likely will) be eying a wide receiver at this pick, but their primary target, Carnell Tate, could be off the board when the time comes. While USC's Makai Lemon and Arizona State's Jordyn Tyson remain options here, taking either of the prospects at No. 8 feels too rich to me, especially given the depth in this class. With the possibility of Cameron Jordan's departure still on the table, pairing Chase Young with a physical specimen like Bain feels like a match made in heaven. The arm-length concern is unavoidable, but so is the dominant body of work that Bain put on tape at Miami. -- Arye Pulli

Initially, Jordyn Tyson was my pick here, but after his standout private workout on Friday, there’s a real chance he won’t be available when the Saints are on the clock. If that happens, Rueben Bain becomes a highly compelling option at No. 8. The Saints still have a major question mark opposite Chase Young, and with impact pass rushers so difficult to find, especially beyond the top 10, Bain offers a chance to land a true cornerstone piece. Beyond that, acquiring a proven edge rusher on the open market comes at a steep premium, making this both a smart and cost-effective move. -- Luke Loffredo

Carnell Tate, WR, Ohio State

Ohio State Buckeyes wide receiver Carnell Tate (17) makes a catch for a touchdown Saturday, Dec. 6, 2025, during the Big Ten football championship against the Indiana Hoosiers at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.

I think (hope) teams picking ahead of the Saints will overthink their evaluations and let a good player slip down the board. Tate didn't complete athletic testing with the jumps or agility drills, and he didn't take on the mantle of WR1 next to a generational talent in college (Jeremiah Smith, a top-five pick in next year's draft). That doesn't matter. He wins on the routes Tyler Shough throws his best footballs and thrives in areas of the field where the Saints came up short last year. He can help Shough take a leap in Year 2 while lowering the pressure on Chris Olave in the process. -- John Sigler

This article originally appeared on Saints Wire: 2026 NFL Draft predictions: Who will the Saints pick in Round 1?