The New Orleans Saints hold the eighth pick in the 2026 NFL Draft and are considering edge rusher Ruben Bain Jr. from Miami as a potential replacement for Cameron Jordan. If wide receiver Carnell Tate is unavailable, Bain could be the ideal choice for the Saints.
Saints 'ideal' but realistic No. 8 pick is 9.5 edge to replace Cameron Jordan originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The New Orleans Saints own the eighth pick in the 2026 NFL Draft and have a few different routes they could go down with this top draft selection.
Wide receiver is a big need, with Ohio State's Carnell Tate being a very intriguing option with the eighth pick. But, if Tate is off the board, edge rusher might be the next biggest need.
With an edge rusher in mind, James Reber for NFL.com named a realistic but "ideal" pick for the Saints at eighth overall in the form of Miami Hurricanes 9.5 sack edge rusher, and potential Cameron Jordan replacement, Ruben Bain Jr.
"Even if the 36-year-old ultimately returns, New Orleans will need to look to the future on the D-line, and the best analogue for Jordan in the draft is Bain," Reber writes.
Bain is 6-foot-2, 263 pounds, and would be a nice pass rusher to add to the defensive line as both a short-term and long-term replacement for Jordan.
As Reber notes, even if Jordan comes back, Bain would still be a good pick, as he could learn from the legendary Saints defensive end for a year before taking over full-time in 2027.
More:Ā Ruben Bain Jr. named perfect draft pick for Saints with eighth pick
The Hurricanes' edge rusher had 9.5 sacks last season, and he dominated with some incredible pass rush upside and dominance against good offensive lineman.
If the Saints wind up picking a defensive player in the 2026 NFL Draft with the eighth pick, then Bain is the realistic "ideal" option with this selection.
Bain has been sliding down some draft boards lately, with David Bailey and Arvell Reese seemingly firmly ahead of Bain. That could be good news for the Saints, as Bain could fall right in their lap and be a perfect No. 8 pick.
Ruben Bain Jr. is a 9.5 sack edge rusher from the Miami Hurricanes, identified as a realistic and ideal pick for the Saints to replace Cameron Jordan.
The Saints need to fill the edge rusher position, especially if they miss out on wide receiver Carnell Tate with their eighth pick.
Selecting an edge rusher like Ruben Bain Jr. could significantly impact the Saints' defense by providing a replacement for veteran Cameron Jordan and enhancing their pass rush.
LIV Golf's future appears uncertain as reports suggest Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund may withdraw funding after investing $5 billion. Despite assurances for the 2026 season, the tour faces challenges from low ratings and strong competition from the PGA Tour.
Mike Trout's 446-foot HR joins him with Aaron Judge in Yankee Stadium lore.
Detroit Tigers projected to take a risk on a 6'3" prep bat in the MLB draft.
Arshdeep Singh makes history as the first PBKS bowler to reach 100 IPL wickets!
California's top high school football prospects are on the move this weekend.
Viktor Hovland shines with a 64 at RBC Heritage, Gotterup scores 70.
See every story in Sports ā including breaking news and analysis.