Final mock draft roundup: Saints come down to three consensus options

The 2026 NFL draft is just days away, which means New Orleans Saints fans will finally learn who they will be adding in the first round. They won't have to wait too long, as they sit within the top 10. This is an interesting class, with a fairly solidified group of players sitting within the top 10. With just days away until the draft, most people have an idea of who is going to go early.

Looking over a group of 15 mock drafts that have been released in the past few days, there are some clear changing trends going on in the top 10. Here are the most common names that showed up and their average draft position:

• QB Fernando Mendoza, Indiana (15/15): 1.0
• EDGE Arvell Reese, Ohio State (15/15): 2.5
• EDGE David Bailey, Texas Tech (15/15): 3.8
• RB Jeremiyah Love, Notre Dame (15/15): 5.2
• LB Sonny Styles, Ohio State (14/15): 5.9
• WR Carnell Tate, Ohio State (13/15): 7.5
• S Caleb Downs, Ohio State (13/15): 7.5
• OT Francis Mauigoa, Miami (12/15): 7.5
• EDGE Rueben Bain Jr., Miami (10/15): 8.9
• CB Mansoor Delane, LSU (11/15): 9.2

Reuben Bain Jr. is someone who continues to drop, whether it be measurables or character concerns. This is great news for the Saints, who need a dominant pass rusher. Francis Mauigoa is also a rising name. Mauigoa going before No. 8 would also be a huge win, as it would allow someone else to fall to New Orleans and the Saints have no need for the talented tackle. Lastly, it seems that Tate is the clear choice for the top wide receiver, with only Jordyn Tyson battling him for the spot.

In those 15 mock drafts, New Orleans only selected a wide receiver (six times), cornerback (four times), or defensive end (five times). All three are positions of need and have very talented players representing at the top of the draft board. Here's who each mock had the Saints taking:

USA Today: Carnell Tate, WR, Ohio State

Nate Davis: "What a win it would be for them to get the pick of the wideout litter in a bid to support second-year QB Tyler Shough. A fellow Ohio Stater like the Saints’ Chris Olave, Tate is the latest ready-made wideout product emerging from the Buckeyes' pipeline. His 51 catches in 2025 averaged 17.2 yards, nearly three more than former teammate Jeremiah Smith. And while Tate might have been Robin to Smith’s Batman, he and Olave could complement one another nicely as WR1 and WR1A – Tate better suited to work on the boundary, while Olave can do a lot of damage from the slot."

The Athletic: Carnell Tate, WR, Ohio State

Jeff Howe: "The Saints really like quarterback Tyler Shough, so they’ll get to work supporting him. This would pair Tate with former Buckeye Chris Olave.Tate is already a professional route runner with top-quality ball skills and better playing speed than track speed. (Remember the confusion over his combine 40 times? Yeah, teams never really cared about that.)Tate and the Saints have been a popular connection throughout the pre-draft cycle, but some executives believed a tackle like Kadyn Proctor should also be in play at No. 8. And since the Saints need a cornerback, Mansoor Delane also figures to be a consideration."

ESPN: Mansoor Delane, CB, LSU

Jordan Reid: "Delane shined in his only season at LSU after transferring from Virginia Tech and is the top-rated cornerback on my board. He is a polished technician who can play press-man while being equally good in zone coverage. The Saints can keep pouring resources into their cornerback room here, as Delane would be a true shutdown option on the outside."

NFL.com: Reuben Bain Jr., DE, Miami

Chad Reuter: "Bain lined up in a two-point stance and as a pass-rushing DT at times while at Miami, suggesting his short-area quickness and power could work in new defensive coordinator Brandon Staley's scheme."

CBS Sports: Mansoor Delane, CB, LSU

Garrett Podell: "Mansoor Delane crushed his LSU Pro Day with a blazing 4.35-second 40-yard dash. That's on top of leading the SEC with a 24.1 passer rating allowed when targeted, the best mark in the conference among 82 players with at least 30 targets. Saints general manager Mickey Loomis had an extended chat with Delane at the Pro Day, and he keeps Delane in Louisiana to beef up his secondary."

Yahoo! Sports: Rueben Bain Jr., DE, Miami

Nate Tice: "The Saints need to add juice off the edge to a defense that ranked 22nd in pressure rate last season. Rueben Bain Jr. comes in an NFL-ready body (short arms and all) and has the density requirement the Saints have preferred out of their defensive ends. Bain and Chase Young could be a nice duo as the Saints continue to turn the page into the next chapter of their post-Drew Brees era."

Sporting News: David Bailey, DE, Texas Tech

Vinnie Iyer: "With Cameron Jordan needing to be replaced on the edge pass rush for Brandon Staley, Bailey's devastating speed and quickness would be a great get."

Athlon Sports: Carnell Tate, WR, Ohio State

Doug Farrar: "Now that the Saints appear to have their quarterback of the future in Tyler Shough, they need a receiver corps that’s more than Chris Olave and the Pips. Tate is not seen by everyone as a No. 1 receiver, but I think he’s undervalued in that department because he was doing his thing next to Jeremiah Smith last season. Last season, Kellen Moore’s Saints ran the NFL’s highest rate of 11 personnel (one back, one tight end, three receivers) at 74%, and they did it without the kind of receiver that Tate can be. They need a guy like this."

Fox Sports: Carnell Tate, WR, Ohio State

Joel Klatt: In one of the recent episodes of my digital show, "The Joel Klatt Show," NFL Network analyst Daniel Jeremiah compared Carnell Tate to Saints wide receiver Chris Olave, who is also an Ohio State alum. I like the idea of pairing those two together. I also wonder if the Saints would pick Downs. Defensive coordinator Brandon Staley knows how impactful an elite safety can be, as he coached Derwin James during his years as the head coach of the Los Angeles Chargers. But New Orleans needs to give second-year quarterback Tyler Shough some weapons. Giving Shough a steady, downfield threat in Tate would be good."

CBS Sports: Carnell Tate, WR, Ohio State

Mike Renner: "Tyler Shough's go balls were one of the most impressive parts of his rookie season, but he didn't have receivers outside of Chris Olave to haul them in. That's Tate's specialty, as he has the body control to consistently come down with passes in tight situations downfield."

NFL.com: Rueben Bain Jr., DE, Miami

Bucky Brooks: "The high-motor defender is the perfect replacement for Cam Jordan on the edges as a violent pass rusher with heavy hands and a nasty temperament."

CBS Sports: Mansoor Delane, CB, LSU

Ryan Wilson: "In recent drafts, the Saints have prioritized the offensive and defensive lines and typically targeted defensive backs on Day 2. But after letting Alontae Taylor walk in free agency -- and even with the emergence of Quincy Riley -- there is a glaring need at outside CB opposite Kool-Aid McKinstry. Delane is the best corner in this class, this is around the range where he'll likely come off the board, and there's a better chance of finding an edge rusher, safety or wide receiver at pick No. 42 who can contribute right away than hoping a CB is still on the board there."

The Draft Network: Rueben Bain Jr., DE, Miami

Keith Sanchez: "The Saints have already lost Demario Davis and are currently in negotiations with EDGE Cam Jordan, who have been two of their key pieces and leaders defensively. With that being the case, it’s a must that the Saints get this pick right by finding the new leader of the defense—a combination of talent and leadership. Rueben Bain Jr. has the opportunity to step right in and be a leader of this defense, and he plays the game with violence and a high motor."

NFL Mocks: Mansoor Delane, CB, LSU

Tarringo Basile-Vaughan: "The Saints keep former LSU star Mansoor Delane in the state of Louisiana by selecting him with the No. 8 overall pick in the draft. This one is a bit of a surprise, but with Tate off the board and the top pass rushers going ahead of them, the Saints take the best player on the board at a position of need. This move impacts the board slightly with a couple of CB hungry teams selecting behind them."

Pro Football Sports Network: Jordyn Tyson, WR, Arizona State

Jacob Infante: "Winning four of their last five games may have hurt their draft positioning, but that’s a trade-off the New Orleans Saints will take, considering the growth that Tyler Shough displayed. The Saints no longer need to worry about targeting a QB in this draft and instead focus on getting Shough some help. Jordyn Tyson is a threat with his agility, sinking his hips sharply into his breaks and consistently creating separation underneath. He probably won’t be the first wide receiver off the board due to his injury history, but he still carries a very high ceiling at the next level."

This article originally appeared on Saints Wire: 2026 NFL mock draft roundup: Saints have 3 main options in final tally