Saints fans, trust in the front office.
NFL Draft analyst Lance Zierlein released his mock draft 2.0 on Monday night, where the board fell perfectly for the New Orleans Saints and gave ample options at various positions. They’re in an interesting spot where they can select the best player available at pick eight. This could be an offensive playmaker or a franchise cornerstone on defense; it doesn’t matter. What’s important is that the coaching staff selects who they believe is the best fit.
In Zierlan’s mock draft, these are the top prospects available at pick eight:
- Sonny Styles- Ohio State: Linebacker
- Jeremiyah Love- Notre Dame: Running back
- Caleb Downs- Ohio State: Safety
- Carnell Tate- Ohio State: Wide receiver
- Makai Lemon- USC: Wide receiver
- Jordyn Tyson- Arizona State: Wide receiver
The reason the board fell this way was that two cornerbacks were mocked within the top seven picks. Thus, causing these prospects to fall. In this scenario, the Saints draft room would be chaotic, with each coach and scout pleading for their choice. They have elite options both offensively and defensively that would elevate their group on day one. It would be a tough choice, but this is the best-case scenario.
Zierlein had the Saints selecting Jeremiyah Love in his mock draft. This is many fans' top choice and would supercharge the Saints' offense. Love tallied over 1,600 scrimmage yards and 21 touchdowns in 2025. The Heisman Finalist has home-run speed, evident in his 4.36 40-yard dash, and frequently makes people miss in space. He would be a major improvement in the Saints' offense and help take some pressure off Tyler Shough.
Jeremiyah Love would be an amazing option… but so are the other choices
The Saints can’t go wrong in this scenario. Fans will be upset regardless of who they select, but the only thing that matters is that the front office is satisfied with the pick. They need to grab the player who they believe will have the biggest impact for the future. If that’s Love, then great. However, the team shouldn’t be criticized if Roger Goodell announces someone else.
Fans should trust the front office after an elite 2025 draft class. The selection of Tyler Shough in the second round was despised by the national media, but he is proving to be an excellent pick. Kellen Moore and Brandon Staley know what they want the Saints roster to look like, which may not align with the top available player.
Overall, Lance Zierlein’s mock draft 2.0 created a best-case scenario for the Saints where they seemingly can’t miss at pick eight. He had them selecting Jeremiyah Love, who would be fantastic, but fans shouldn’t be upset with any of the other options.