2026 NFL Draft: Saints' biggest team needs, top prospect fits
The New Orleans Saints have several team needs heading into the 2026 NFL Draft, but they can't all be filled in Round 1. Here are prospects to watch.
When the New Orleans Saints are on the clock with their first pick on night one of the 2026 NFL Draft, they could adopt a philosophy of selecting the best player available or a player who would fill a need. The approach varies depending on the team making the pick, but when you have a top-ten pick in the draft, selecting the best available player is typically the path teams take. For the Saints, who have several positions to fill, this will be a situation to watch closely.
Will Mickey Loomis and the front office select a wide receiver, which the offense desperately needs, or will they seize an opportunity to draft a potential steal that may have slipped to them at pick No. 8? Only time will tell.
It is crucial for the front office to have a ranked list of the team's needs and potential targets for all three days of the NFL Draft, as it navigates the ups and downs of the unpredictable weekend No. 1 Team need: Wide receiver Day 1 target: Carnell Tate, Ohio State The Saints' front office has a history of selecting former Ohio State Buckeyes , and Tate fits that bill. Tate could bring his experience of excelling as an offense's No.
2 option to New Orleans to pair himself with OSU alumnus Chris Olave. He figures to be the safest option out of the top-three wide receivers in this class. Day 2 target: Chris Bell, Louisville It's safe to say that Bell would be the wide receiver that Shough most desires this year.