2026 Saints draft class superlatives: Best scheme fit, phone call
From the best scheme fit to the most memorable draft-day phone call, here are our superlatives for the New Orleans Saints' 2026 draft class.
Draft grades are old hat. Evaluating rookies with letter grades is easy, and you can find it anywhere. So we're taking it up a notch (or at least having for more fun with it) by assigning superlatives to the New Orleans Saints ' rookie class.
We're putting some more thought into it, considering context of where guys were drafted, and letting their unique skill sets and personalities shine a little brighter. So, taking a cue from our friends over at Chargers Wire, we've highlighted some standouts from the Saints' rookie draft class in a couple of different categories: Best bang for buck: WR Bryce Lance Lance was a consensus top-100 prospect going into the draft, so to get him at No. 136 (late in the fourth round) is great value.
He can flat-out fly down the sideline, and that athleticism will give him an edge against opponents who write him off as a small-school flash in the pan. At the same time, Lance did run a very limited route tree at North Dakota State, so he could take a back seat to some receivers who are more ready to play on Sundays. The eyebrow-raiser: DT Christen Miller This is nothing against Miller as a prospect; it just wasn't a popular belief that defensive tackle was as big a priority as cornerback or edge rusher in Round 2.
And it wasn't. Mickey Loomis admitted after the draft that the Saints tried to trade up and address those positions but couldn't agree to a deal with anyone, and they chose to go with Miller rather than force a pick at a position of greater need. Miller should still play a lot of snaps right away with Davon Godchaux falling out of favor late last season.