Saints 7-round 2026 NFL mock draft: New Orleans goes against many fans’ wishes but help Tyler Shough with aggressive picks by Kellen Moore
The Saints offense just got a whole lot more talented in latest mock draft.
The New Orleans Saints are building for the future of the franchise. Rookie quarterback Tyler Shough was an exciting revelation in 2025, but the roster still needs plenty of upgrades.
The 2026 NFL Draft should help the Saints accommodate Shough and also improve the defensive talent for the black and gold. Check out a new 7-round mock draft for New Orleans below.
Saints 7-round 2026 NFL mock draft after Super Bowl LX
Round 1, Pick 8: Jeremiyah Love, RB, Notre Dame
Get Tyler Shough assistance! Alvin Kamara is still a good running back when healthy, but it is clear that he is past his true prime in the pros. I like adding Love to the offense for New Orleans to remove some pressure of Kamara as he gets older. He’s a phenomenal pass catcher out of the backfield, too.
Taking a running back in the first round would be a tough pill to swallow for many fans, but his talent creates value in multiple avenues for the unit. In a class with weaker top end talent, the decision makes sense for the Saints.
“Without any further improvement, Love will become one of the better home run threats on the next level. If he is able to develop those finer points of playing the position, Love could become one of the best running backs in the NFL before too long. This is a rare athlete for the position who also plays a physical brand of football. That marriage has special written all over it. There is no limit to just how good Love can become down the road.” — Ryan Roberts, A to Z Sports
Round 2, Pick 42: Zion Young, EDGE, Missouri
Young continues to climb up boards, and I get it. He plays with a blend of speed and power that is more impressive than many other options off the edge in this range. He impressed at the Senior Bowl and could hear his name called late in round one or early in round two. The Saints need more pass rush prowess alongside Chase Young, especially if Cameron Jordan retires.
Round 3, Pick 73: Connor Lew, IOL, Auburn
Lew dealt with an injury this past season that took him out of action, but his profile is impressive enough that he still declared for this draft. He is arguably the most talented center prospect in the class, but he could slip a little bit due to the injury. Erik McCoy has dealt with multiple injuries in recent years, so the Saints need a contingency plan in place for him.
Round 4, Pick 132: Tacario Davis, CB, Washington
Davis has incredible length, and Brandon Staley has valued that in the past for his secondary units. Kool-Aid McKinstry made strides last year, and the staff is high on Quincy Riley. That being said, the Saints should keep adding young talent to the CB room.
Round 4, Pick 137: Taurean York, LB, Texas A&M
I think York can be a rotational LB and play making special teams player at the NFL level. New Orleans may or may not bring back veteran LB Demario Davis this offseason, so we will see how that affects their true need at the position by the time April rolls around.
Round 5, Pick 148: C.J. Daniels, WR, Miami
Daniels had a strong final season with the Hurricanes. Daniels played a lot of college football and continued to develop year after year. The Saints added a weapon in Love earlier in this class, so I waited a bit longer to address WR than normal.
Round 5, Pick 170: DeMonte Capehart, DT, Clemson
Capehart projects as a depth interior lineman at the pro level. The Saints appreciate the development of Bryan Bresee so far, but some of the other options in that room are aging. Vernon Broughton is a complete unknown after missing last season due to injury. Nose tackle remains a possible concern for next season in New Orleans.
Round 6, Pick 189: Tanner Koziol, TE, Houston
Depth tight end could be a concern for New Orleans in 2026. Taysom Hill’s future is murky, and it’s unknown if Foster Moreau will be a cap casualty. Koziol has strong hands and is better after the catch than many options in this draft class.
How did the Saints do in this mock draft scenario? Let us know via social media!
New Orleans Saints News
Major NFL news makes life even easier for the New Orleans Saints front office as they attack offseason task they’ll deal with quickly
The Saints got some great news for their offseason plans.
