By Ross Jackson
This mock draft is all about getting the New Orleans Saints some weapons on offense, first and foremost. After that, backfilling for some additional depth options and sleeper contributors that could quickly rise throughout training camp.
One of the top weapons in the NFL Draft could be on the board at No. 8 when the Saints select. If he is, the Saints shouldn’t waste much time before sprinting to the podium and making their first selection.
Round 1, Pick 8 – Arizona State WR Jordyn Tyson
Tyson would be a home run addition for New Orleans. They will likely feel good going into 2026 with receivers Chris Olave and Devaughn Vele leading the position group, but the temptation to add Tyson is too good to pass up here. The 6-foot-2, 200-pound receiver reeled in 61 receptions for 711 receiving yards and seven touchdown catches in 2025. He appeared in nine games while managing injury.
Jordyn Tyson (8/126/2) again did WR1 things last night vs. TCU.
With his body fluidity and field awareness, Tyson is very skilled at creating pockets of space and plucking the football. pic.twitter.com/8vQIcRSzeR
— Dane Brugler (@dpbrugler) September 27, 2025
The Sun Devils wideout would provide another versatile piece to the offensive attack, lining up in the slot 42.6% of his snaps in 2025. With three talented receivers that can run routes from anywhere on the field, quarterback Tyler Shough and head coach Kellen Moore would have an undeniable weapon added to their arsenal.
Round 2, Pick 42 – Notre Dame RB Jadarian Price
While Notre Dame’s Jeremiyah Love gets all of the praise at running back, Price is a playmaker in his own right. His acceleration is off the charts, has desirable traits as a pass protector and is in possession of impressive vision and burst. The 5-foot-11, 210-pound ball carrier averaged 3.92 yards after contact per rush last year, totaling 674 total rushing yards and 11 rushing touchdowns on just 120 attempts.
Stellar vision and contact balance here for Jadarian Price (#24).
I love seeing a player who can follow blocks between the tackles, burst through the hole, and absorb contact well. pic.twitter.com/BbQBdj2LGg
— Newt Westen (@NFLDraft_Westen) January 19, 2026
Price will need to show more of what he can do as a pass-catcher out of the backfield during his offseason visits, but if he develops further in that area of the game, he could very well be the second running back off the board behind his teammate.
New Orleans once put a big emphasis on running backs in the draft that didn’t have a ton of wear and tear. Price has never seen more than 20 carries in a game and topped out at just 120 carries in a season. The Saints would be getting a very fresh, talented and explosive back with this pick.
Round 3, Pick 73 – Ohio State TE Max Klare
An all-around tight end, Klare could be a perfect addition opposite Juwan Johnson for 2026. Klare is a strong run blocker with his 6-foot-5, 243-pound frame and has some pass-catching talent as well.
His 66.7% contested catch rate could be very useful in the red zone, where the Saints were the lowest-scoring team in 2025.
With uncertainty around the future of tight ends like Taysom Hill, Foster Moreau and Jack Stoll, landing another contributor at the position for the team’s future is a real possibility with the talent available in this year’s draft.
Round 4, Pick 132 – Indiana C Pat Coogan
Getting any Indiana Hoosier in this year’s draft should be considered a win. The program that head coach Curt Cignetti has built there should serve as a background NFL teams trust. Coogan is a personification of that program.
The center measures in at 6-foot-5 and 311 pounds while paving the way for the Hoosiers’ run game, controlling the line of scrimmage, making ID calls pre-snap and protecting his Heisman-winning quarterback. He spent time with Notre Dame as a starting center and left guard. In New Orleans, Coogan could start at left guard or, if that spot is handled in free agency, could become a swing backup along the interior before potentially claiming a starting role later in his rookie contract.
Round 4, Pick 137 – Ohio State CB Davison Igbinosun
Scheme versatile Ohio State cornerbacks are likely to continue calling the Saints’ name in the NFL Draft.
Igbinosun could be the next. He’ll need to cut his penalties and handsy play down at the next level, but his 6-foot-2 and 200-pound frame, paired with his his athleticism and ability to impact the ball (double-digit combined passes defensed and interceptions each of the last two years) make him a quality pickup at this point in the draft.
He’s a career outside player, meaning that if the Saints were to lose starting slot corner Alontae Taylor, this would only indirectly help the position by creating a chance to move another player inside.
Round 5, Pick 148 – UCF EDGE Malachi Lawrence
Much like last week’s mock draft, which included Western Kentucky edge rusher Nadame Tucker, Lawrence is a late-round sleeper at the position.
Lawrence plays with a lot of aggression in both the run and pass rush game. He’s a violent player that can blend speed and power in his pass rush plan and provides good athleticism at the position which should fit in well with defensive coordinator Brandon Staley’s usage of defensive ends.
The 6-foot-4, 250-pound pass rusher scored seven sacks last season along with 11 tackles for a loss.
UCF edge rusher Malachi Lawrence is one of the most underrated edge prospects in this upcoming draft class
– extremely impressive hand timing; swipes always land
– day 1 impact as a run defender at the next level; plays with impressive leverage, anchor, and ability to shed
-… pic.twitter.com/bAOfgaLdWB— Drew Beatty (@IronCityFilm) January 9, 2026
Round 6, Pick 170 – Ole Miss DT Zxavian Harris
Standing at an imposing 6-foot-8 and 330 pounds, Harris would likely be asked to be more of an a-gap nose tackle in the league. But in any case, having someone of his size plugging up the run game, batting down passes at the line and creating some havoc against pass protectors is worth a roll of the dice in round six. A player with Harris’ physical traits would be a unique addition to the Saints’ odd-front defensive line rotation.
Zxavian Harris is a very very interesting DL prospect at 6’8, 330lbs pic.twitter.com/NzMXuiRj9b
— NFL Draft Files (@NFL_DF) November 13, 2025
Round 6, Pick 189 – Boise State T Kage Casey
Eventually, Moore has to draft a Boise State guy, right? In this mock, it’s Casey. A career-left tackle with the Broncos, Casey allowed four sacks in 2025, but only 10 pressures in total. Before then, he’d only surrendered one sack in the previous two seasons combined.
The tackle has good size at 6-foot-5 and 315 pounds, a ton of experience with 46 game appearances (41 starts in the last three seasons) and is a solid protector in the run game.
Kage Casey (6’5 315) Boise State
+ Over 2,700 career snaps played
+ Allowed just 6 pressures and 0 sacks in 2024
+ 80.1 pass block grade and 80.0 run block grade in 2025
+ Stout anchor
+ Controlled footwork as a run blocker
+ Understands blocking angles– Allowed 4 sacks in… pic.twitter.com/DAymNYGhwz
— Bengals & Brews (@BengalsBrews) January 17, 2026
New Orleans will get a good look at Casey during this year’s Senior Bowl.

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