New Orleans Saints Eye Top Picks In 2026 NFL Draft
Football in Louisiana can be a serious commitment...even when your team is having a bad season, you're still locked in. Whether that's college or the pros. For fans of the New Orleans Saints, the recent seasons have been a painful exercise in patience. The organization is undergoing a complete, full-blown, rebuild.
While the recent performance of quarterback Tyler Shough against the Panthers offered a spark of optimism...the team clearly has a long way to go. The most significant hope for a turnaround isn't on the current roster...it's in the upcoming 2026 NFL Draft.
How High Will the Saints Be Picking In The 2026 NFL Draft?
The primary question circulating among the fanbase is a tough one...are the Saints struggling enough to secure the number one overall pick? It's the difficult reality of a rebuild...where draft order becomes more important than the current win-loss record.
Projections currently show the Saints are firmly in the running for a top-10 pick in 2026. Significant struggles on both offense and defense mean they'll be selecting early. The silver lining...they are scheduled to pick more than once in the opening rounds.
The Saints Restocked Draft Picks At The Trade Deadline
A series of trades...most notably the deal that sent Rashid Shaheed to Seattle...the Saints have worked to restock their draft pick pool. Over the last few years, The Saints have moved their 2026 draft picks in multiple trades. They lost picks as part of trades for Devaughn Vele and Davon Godchaux. So to claw back some picks in 2026 was really important for a team in a rebuild
This is what the team's 'war chest' looks like for the 2026 NFL Draft:
First Round (currently projected top 5 pick)
Second Round
Third Round
Fourth Round (from Seattle Seahawks)
Fourth Round* (potential compensatory pick)
Fifth Round
Fifth Round (from Seattle Seahawks)
Sixth Round
The 'compensatory pick' is not a done deal. Its based on offseason moves with free agents, and even playing time of some players. The Saints can't count on that extra fourth round pick just yet.
What Would It Take To Get The Saints The #1 Overall Pick?
Securing the coveted #1 overall pick requires a team to be the worst in the league...a high price to pay. While the Saints are struggling, they may not be on pace for the absolute worst record. The recent performance by Tyler Shough might be just enough to secure a few more wins...taking them out of the running for that top spot.
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Right now the Tennessee Titans have only 1 win on the season, putting them on pace to have a second #1 overall pick in a row. The Saints have just 2 wins, but so do the New York Jets, Cleveland Browns, Las Vegas Raiders, and New York Giants. Which means there's a contest of failure taking place across the league.
ESPN has a Football Power Index that is projecting the odds of what team will secure what draft pick based on the remaining schedule. They currently project the Saints to have the #4 overall pick. The ESPN FPI gives the Saints a 9.7% chance of securing the #1 overall pick. While the project the Tennessee Titans to have a 36.6% chance of getting that top spot.
What Will the Saints Do With All This Draft Capital?
Even if Shough proves to be a long-term solution...the Saints have needs at nearly every position. The offensive line is a primary concern and must be a priority. But many experts are starting to push the "you have to take a quarterback if you can" narrative.
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Does that mean the Saints could end up taking a QB at the top of the draft? Sure. If Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza keeps setting the world on fire and leads Indiana on a Playoff run, the NFL voices will get loud for New Orleans to take him high. But they might not get a chance.
If the Saints are picking behind Cleveland, the Jets, or the Raiders, Mendoza will probably be gone. Sure, there are other QBs being projected at the top of the draft, but will they be that much better than Shough? The Saints could look at a top tier offensive lineman instead, to protect the investment they've already made in Shough.
The defense is also in desperate need of a youth movement...particularly in the pass rush and secondary. The Saints will have the assets to trade up for a specific target...or they can stand pat and simply draft a large volume of new talent. Its really hard to project what would be better for this franchise; a single absolute game-changer, or a handful of picks that could provide depth.