Experts Weigh in on Saints’ No. 8 Pick in NFL Mock Draft

The 2026 NFL Draft opens Thursday, and that start also marks the end for many mock drafts. The industry of projections has been especially active this year.

The NFL Mock Draft Database lists 1,208 mock drafts published since the season ended. Analysts call this class unpredictable because its top talent is “flat.” That term refers to fewer clear, separated top-10 prospects.

Trade news and implications

A blockbuster trade on Friday reshaped some draft thinking. The New York Giants sent defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence to the Cincinnati Bengals. The Giants received the No. 10 pick in return.

That move could alter the Giants’ strategy at No. 5. It could also shift the landscape around the Saints’ No. 8 pick. Experts weigh in on how that cascade might affect New Orleans.

First-round trends for the Saints

Among 26 recent mock drafts, the Saints were assigned nine different players at No. 8. The spread shows the draft’s unpredictability.

The three most common selections were Rueben Bain, Mansoor Delane and Jordyn Tyson. Each appeared five times. Carnell Tate followed with four mentions.

• Rueben Bain — Miami, edge. Once seen as a top-three prospect. Arm measurements and a past fatal car accident have hurt his stock.
• Mansoor Delane — LSU, cornerback. An All-American in his lone season at LSU. Would be the first LSU first-rounder ever taken by New Orleans.
• Jordyn Tyson — Arizona State, wide receiver. Battled injuries and held a private workout on Friday to prove his health. Would be the Saints’ first top-10 receiver since Wes Chandler in 1978.
• Carnell Tate — Ohio State, wide receiver. Appeared in multiple mocks as a top target.

Ohio State defensive back Caleb Downs and Tennessee corner Jermod McCoy each drew two selections. Of the 26 mock choices, 25 were wide receiver, edge rusher or defensive back. The lone outlier was Ohio State linebacker Sonny Styles.

Two mockers projected draft-day trades involving the Saints. One had New Orleans trading down with the Dallas Cowboys and still selecting Tyson at No. 12. Another, Todd McShay, imagined the Saints trading up with Arizona to No. 3 for Ohio State edge Arvell Reese.

Notable first-round mock assignments

• Mel Kiper Jr., ESPN (Saturday): Rueben Bain
• Cody Woodruff, USA Today/For The Win (Saturday): Rueben Bain
• Luke Easterling, Athlon Sports (Saturday): Carnell Tate
• Ryan Sanudo, The U.S. Sun (Saturday): Jordyn Tyson
• Steve Serby, New York Post (Saturday): Mansoor Delane
• Carter Bahns, CBS Sports (Saturday): Rueben Bain
• Chad Reuter, NFL.com (Friday): Caleb Downs
• Jared Dubin, CBS Sports (Friday): Carnell Tate
• NBC Sports staff (Friday): Jordyn Tyson
• Chris Gregory, Rotoballer (Friday): Rueben Bain
• Matt Miller, ESPN (Friday): Jermod McCoy
• Jacob Camenker, USA Today (Friday): Mansoor Delane
• Jeff Duncan, Times-Picayune (Friday): Jordyn Tyson
• Andrew Phelps, Lindy Sports (Thursday): David Bailey, Texas Tech edge
• Garrett Podell, CBS Sports (Thursday): Jermod McCoy
• Pete Martuneac, Sports Illustrated (Thursday): Sonny Styles
• Ayrton Ostly, USA Today (Thursday): Saints trade down to No. 12, select Jordyn Tyson
• Vincent Bonsignore, New York Post (Thursday): Mansoor Delane
• Geoff Schwartz, Fox Sports (Wednesday): Carnell Tate
• Brent Sobleski, Bleacher Report (Wednesday): Caleb Downs
• Ryan Noonan, 4 for 4 (Wednesday): Jordyn Tyson
• Mike Band, NFL.com (Wednesday): Mansoor Delane
• Vinnie Iyer, Sporting News (Wednesday): Rueben Bain
• Tom Fornelli, CBS Sports (Wednesday): Mansoor Delane
• Todd McShay, The McShay Report (Wednesday): Saints trade up to No. 3, select Arvell Reese
• Dane Brugler, The Athletic (Tuesday): Carnell Tate

Round two outlook

The Saints hold the No. 42 pick in Round 2. Fewer mockers project beyond Round 1. Ten examined mocks extended to this pick.

Six of those ten mocks had New Orleans targeting a wide receiver at No. 42. Chris Bell and KC Concepcion each appeared twice among the projected selections.

Selected round-two targets in recent mocks

• Mel Kiper Jr., ESPN (Saturday): KC Concepcion, Texas A&M
• Chad Reuter, NFL.com (Friday): Cashius Howell, Texas A&M edge
• Chris Gregory, Rotoballer (Friday): Chris Bell, Louisville WR
• Jeff Duncan, Times-Picayune (Friday): Treydan Stukes, Arizona DB
• Ayrton Ostly, USA Today (Thursday): Derrick Moore, Michigan edge
• Vincent Bonsignore, New York Post (Thursday): KC Concepcion
• Luke Easterling, Athlon Sports (Thursday): Chris Bell
• Brent Sobleski, Bleacher Report (Wednesday): Chris Brazzell II, Tennessee WR
• Vinnie Iyer, Sporting News (Wednesday): Germie Bernard, Alabama WR
• Dane Brugler, The Athletic (Tuesday): Zion Young, Missouri edge

Third-round possibilities

Nine mockers published three-round projections. Two of them tabbed Arizona State corner Keith Abney II in Round 3.

Overall, Round 3 mocks kept to the same positional themes. Most selections were receivers, defensive backs or edge rushers. A single linebacker rounded out the group.

Round-three mock picks of note

• Chad Reuter, NFL.com (Friday): Skyler Bell, UConn WR
• Chris Gregory, Rotoballer (Friday): Keith Abney II, Arizona State CB
• Jeff Duncan, Times-Picayune (Friday): Keyron Crawford, Auburn edge
• Ayrton Ostly, USA Today (Thursday): Saints trade down to No. 76, select Joshua Josephs, Tennessee edge; also add Brenen Thompson, Mississippi State WR at No. 92
• Vincent Bonsignore, New York Post (Thursday): Kyle Louis, Pitt LB
• Luke Easterling, Athlon Sports (Thursday): Jaishawn Barham, Michigan edge
• Brent Sobleski, Bleacher Report (Wednesday): Jalon Kilgore, South Carolina CB
• Vinnie Iyer, Sporting News (Wednesday): Malik Muhammad, Texas CB
• Dane Brugler, The Athletic (Tuesday): Keith Abney II

Mock drafts will continue to vary as teams meet prospects. Filmogaz.com tracked the recent trends and trade scenarios. The final word will come when the draft begins Thursday.