What are the positions Saints fans should be looking towards in the first round of the NFL Draft?
The New Orleans Saints are entering the offseason after a surprising 6-11 season, where rookie quarterback Tyler Shough impressed late in the year. This has caused fans to become optimistic and start looking towards the draft. Despite the success, the Saints still have some holes in their roster that could be addressed. Here are the five biggest needs for the Saints in the 2026 NFL Draft.
Wide receiver
Wide receiver is the biggest need for the Saints this offseason. Chris Olave is a star when healthy, but the team lacks depth outside of him. This was evident in their week 18 matchup, where Kelvin Austin Jr. and Ronnie Bell were atop the depth chart. It’s imperative they address this and give Tyler Shough reliable weapons for the future.
Luckily for the Saints, this is an impressive wide receiver class, especially at the top. There are four bona fide first-round picks in Washington’s Denzel Boston, Arizona State’s Jordyn Tyson, USC’s Makai Lemon, and Ohio State’s Carnell Tate. Any of them would instantly elevate the group and give Shough another dynamic option.
Edge rusher
Chase Young is arguably the Saints best player. He flourished in 2025 with 10 sacks and 49 pressures in 12 games played. However, they still need someone on the opposite side. The future around Cam Jordan and Carl Granderson is uncertain. The Saints have selected first-round edge rushers before, with Marcus Davenport and Payton Turner not turning out; however, that shouldn't dissuade them from selecting another.
The top prospect is Miami edge rusher Rueben Bain, who is wreaking havoc in the College Football Playoffs. But, he’s not the only prospect, as Keldric Faulk from Auburn and Zion Young from Missouri are both enticing.
Running back/tight end
These two positions can be clumped together as the Saints need to find a versatile weapon on offense. Both the running backs and tight ends have been inconsistent in 2025, but in different ways. No one in the backfield was able to stay healthy, with Alvin Kamara, Kendre Miller, and Devin Neal each suffering serious injuries, while Juwan Johnson’s hot/cold performance is the reason for the tight ends.
Either Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love or Oregon tight end Kenyon Sadiq would be an enticing option, with both positions lacking another first-round talent outside of them. Although they play different positions, their roles would be similar as a player who can be lined up all over the field and help Shough in several ways.
Linebacker
The Saints have had a strong linebacker core anchored by Demario Davis and Pete Werner in recent years. However, Davis is getting older, and Werner’s time in New Orleans may be coming to a close. Outside of them, they are lacking depth, with rookie Danny Stutsman and former UDFA Isaiah Stalbird being the backup options.
Because of this, selecting a linebacker early in the draft makes sense. The perfect prospect would be Sonny Styles from Ohio State. He’s the do-it-all player who is a sure tackler, can rush the passer, and drop back into coverage. He only surrendered one missed tackle in 2025, which came in their final game. Styles would be a perfect replacement for Davis when he chooses to retire.
Safety
Safety is an underrated need for the Saints this offseason. Rookie Jonas Sanker has impressed, but they could use another young star beside him. They tried Justin Reid in 2025, and he was serviceable, but they are likely to look for another option next year.
Similarly to linebacker and receiver, a top prospect comes from Ohio State in safety Caleb Downs. He’s one of the smartest players in college football and can play wherever the defense needs. Downs would be a versatile chess piece for Brandon Staley’s defense.