To say that the New Orleans Saints have gotten off to a tough start this season would be an understatement.

The Black and Gold are 1-5 on the year, with that one victory coming over the New York Giants in Week 5. Some can argue that they've played tough opponents closely -- such as the Buffalo Bills and the San Francisco 49ers -- but close only counts in horseshoes and hand grenades. 

Despite this, the Saints are currently in line for the No. 5 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, per CBS Sports. The New York Jets obviously have the top spot right now with an 0-6 record, but there are quite a few other 1-5 teams still listed ahead of New Orleans.

It all comes down to strength of schedule; teams that struggle against lesser opponents will receive a higher spot in the draft than teams that lose to playoff contenders, if all have the same record. That's why the Cleveland Browns, Baltimore Ravens and Miami Dolphins are currently in line to have the second, third and fourth picks, respectively. Likewise, the Tennessee Titans are currently one pick behind the Black and Gold at No. 6 overall, as their 1-5 record has come against some of the toughest teams in the league.

There's no doubt that this is frustrating to a Saints squad that is in the middle of a rebuilding year and really needs to grab a top-three pick. After all, if the franchise "tanks" for a higher draft pick and ends up picking seventh or eighth, it's going to feel like a waste. Plus, which other teams are in rebuild mode at this point? 

CBS goes on to list some of the team's biggest needs, and understandably, cornerbacks and safeties are at the top of that list. The Black and Gold are in desperate need of a solid addition or two in the secondary, as that group has been one of the worst in the league so far this season. A defensive lineman would also be an ideal grab.

Offensively, New Orleans doesn't need to continue to rebuild the offensive line -- like it has been doing for the past five seasons -- or grab another quarterback somewhere in the draft. Rather, CBS anticipates that the team will need some combination of running backs and wide receivers to help surround signal-caller Spencer Rattler with viable weapons. Both groups have struggled to start the year; some fresh, young position players could be a big boost to the offense.

Keep in mind that this will certainly change, as the season is roughly one-third of the way through. There's no telling which teams will turn it on as the year continues, and which will continue to slip. At this point, it's easy to imagine that the Saints will be fighting for that top spot in the draft... but there's going to be plenty of competition for that pick.