Bob Donnan-Imagn Images
By Ross Jackson
Now that the New Orleans Saints may have a quarterback they’re willing to build around for 2026, the NFL Draft becomes particularly interesting. After giving second-year passer Spencer Rattler an extended look over eight games, excitement after two starts by rookie Tyler Shough’s career already appears to have New Orleans ready to commit to him for the foreseeable future.
“It also appears we may have found a young quarterback in Tyler Shough, who has the potential to start for us for many years,” said Saints’ owner Gayle Benson in an exclusive interview with the Times-Picayune. “I was so proud to see Tyler do well, and I shared that with him after the game. He’s doing a great job. I really like that young man.”
If that’s true, then the Saints could end the 2025 season with premium draft capital and a chance to quickly rebuild a contender around Shough and the Saints’ new coaching staff. This mock draft will explore exactly that principle through the first four rounds of the upcoming NFL Draft.
Round 1, Pick 2 – Ohio State LB Arvell Reese
Reese is likely to be considered the player in the 2026 selection process. Miami edge rusher Rueben Bain Jr. would be in consideration for that title, as well. There’s a chance that the Saints end up picking a little later, but still inside the top-10 by the time the final draft order is set, but a full-on pursuit of Reese should be the team’s top priority.
The athletic linebacker can rush the passer (6.5 sacks in 2025), drop back into coverage and defend the run well. His skill set matches perfectly with the hybrid edge rusher role in defensive coordinator Brandon Staley’s defense and would complement veteran defensive end Chase Young, allowing him to take on a full pass rusher role rather than having to drop into coverage himself.
Ohio State LB Arvell Reese is up to 6.5 sacks on the season.
Here are all of his sacks: pic.twitter.com/bZEUgEy0bb
— Marcus Mosher (@Marcus_Mosher) November 11, 2025
Round 2, Pick 34 – Indiana WR Elijah Sarratt
There is a strong group of wide receivers that are likely to go within the first two days in the upcoming class and Sarratt should be a quick favorite. His physical and energetic play style would be a perfect complement to incumbent wideout Chris Olave. With Olave expected to eventually reach an extension to stay with the Saints long-term, a four-year rookie contract overlap for Sarratt would be an excellent building strategy for New Orleans.
With ten receiving touchdowns and over 600 receiving yards in 2025, Sarratt would be a perfect X-receiver type, while Olave could concentrate on being a field-stretcher with access to the entire route tree. Having a physical playmaker like Sarratt would also open up Olave’s opportunities to move around, continuing to man both inside and outside reps.
Round 3, Pick 66 – Baylor TE Michael Trigg
Why add just one physical pass-catcher when you can add two? The Saints currently have six tight ends on that roster. Plus quarterback Taysom Hill, who consistently contributes to the position. Despite that, only one or two may make the leap to the 2026 roster. With starting tight end Juwan Johnson cashing in on his new deal throughout the year so far (sans his drops), having another athletic pass-catching option at the position could give head coach Kellen Moore a lot of weaponry at the position while investing in blockers view free agency or by re-signing outgoing players. Trigg has six receiving touchdowns and over 600 receiving yards on the season in an offense that hasn’t done much to impress otherwise.
This 2-Catch Sequence from Baylor TE Michael Trigg is absurd 😂 pic.twitter.com/HJcWxVbfiX
— Coach Dan Casey (@CoachDanCasey) October 4, 2025
Round 4, Pick 131 – Toledo S Emmanuel McNeil-Warren
The Saints struck gold with 2025 third-round safety Jonas Sanker and could do it again with McNeil-Warren early in day three or late in day two. The 6-foot-2, 202-pound Toledo safety is a strong tackler with experience all over defensive formations. Often a box safety, McNeil-Warren also has experience covering deep over the top and even stepping up into the slot. He’s a successful and reliable run defender and has forced an impressive 27.3% forced incompletion percentage when targeted in 2025. McNeil-Warren and Sanker could turn into a future tandem under the tutelage of veteran Justin Reid.
Round 4, Pick 138 – Michigan RB Justice Haynes
After putting some focus on the defensive side of the ball to get possession back to Shough and his offense, adding another weapon in the backfield or bolstering the offensive line makes a lot of sense here. Assuming the Saints handle offensive line needs via free agency, acquiring another option at running back provides a good opportunity here with Haynes.
Picking up 3.77 yards after contact per rush in 2025, the 5-foot-11, 210-pound back has a chance to add another dynamic to the Saints’ backfield. What the running back room will look like in 2026 is anyone’s guess right now. So finding a versatile and productive (7.1 yards per carry) option to add to the group can help to make some of the tougher decisions that might be made this offseason a little more palatable.
Justice Haynes is growing to become one of the premier “home-run threat” runners of the 2026 NFL Draft class.
That’s THREE TDs of 50-plus yards in just four games.
— Ian Cummings (@IC_Draft) September 20, 2025
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