2026 NFL draft grades: How the Saints compare to NFC South rivals
The 2026 NFL Draft is expected to have plenty of fireworks. For the NFC South, that begins when the New Orleans Saints go on the clock at pick No. 8.
The New Orleans Saints hold the No. 8 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, which is set to kick off on Thursday, April 23. It'll be just the second time in ten years that the Saints hold a pick within the top ten.
The Saints currently hold the eighth overall pick and are expected to consider options such as trading up to the third pick, trading back, or acquiring additional assets. In the 2025 draft, they selected offensive tackle Kelvin Banks Jr. with the ninth pick and focused on securing their future at the quarterback position by choosing Tyler Shough with the fortieth pick.
General Manager Mickey Loomis and the Saints' front office are expected to be working within 10 to 15 minutes of 8:56 PM EST. Teams now have eight minutes to make their selections, a reduction from the previous 10 minutes allowed in earlier years. What channel is the NFL Draft on today?
Time, TV Schedule TV Channel: ABC, ESPN, NFL Network Time: 7:00 PM CT The 2026 NFL Draft will broadcast nationally on ABC, ESPN, and the NFL Network on Thursday, April 23. Saints 2026 Draft Picks Round 1, Pick 8 Round 2, Pick 43 Round 3, Pick 73 Round 4, Pick 132 Round 4, Pick 136 Round 5, Pick 150 Round 5, Pick 172 Round 6, Pick 190 NFC South draft grades This section will be updated after the Saints make their first selection. NFL Draft Top-10 Order Las Vegas Raiders New York Jets Arizona Cardinals Tennessee Titans New York Giants Cleveland Browns Washington Commanders New Orleans Saints Kansas City Chiefs New York Giants (via CIN) This article originally appeared on Saints Wire: 2026 NFL draft grades: Saints, NFC South tracker