One of the top players in the draft could change everything for New Orleans
After making heavy investments on the offensive side of the ball, the New Orleans Saints are expected to focus on bolstering the defense throughout the draft. With the 8th pick being the one selection that could make or break the draft class, the Saints have to make the correct decision. Even being just over two weeks away from the draft, there are little to no gaurentees in the top 10, besides Fernando Mendoza at 1 to the Las Vegas Raiders
Anything can happen with the picks before 8th, and one of the best outcomes for the Saints is Miami EDGE Rueben Bain Jr. dropping a bit. Looking at need, the Saints have Chase Young on one side of the defensive line, but with Cam Jordan leaving in free agency, there is a massive hole on the other side. Carl Granderson could play there, but with the season's sudden moments of inconsistency, relying on that, in addition to Young's health, is risky.
So, going into the draft, the Saints should look to make a heavy investment in that position, and Bain Jr. would arguably be the best choice.
Before going to why that is, let's look at some reasons Bain Jr. would be available at 8. His arm length has been one of the top storylines of the 2026 NFL Draft. Bain Jr. has historically short arms for a top pick, which will scare teams away, but Bain Jr. wins in so many other ways that he can overcome the arm length issue
. Still, teams have measurement thresholds they will not go away from, and with Arvell Reese and David Bailey as options, those teams may opt for one of the two prospects.
That, plus teams just valuing other players higher, may drop Bain Jr. to the Saints, and here is what he would bring to the defense.
Looking at his position in Brandon Staley's scheme, Bain Jr. could play a similar role to Granderson, where he is primarily a 3-4 DE and 4-3 EDGE. But the Saints also may try him out at OLB. He has positional versatility that Staley will fall in love with.
Bain Jr. is an excellent run defender and pass rusher, and instantly, he would become one of the best defensive players on the Saints' roster. At 8, by selecting Bain Jr., the Saints will be fixing one of the biggest needs on the roster while also getting a player with all the potential in the world.