Post-free agency 7-round Saints mock draft

Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

By Ross Jackson

Now that the NFL’s first wave of free agency is behind it, the NFL Draft can truly begin to take shape. No more guessing at which flash signings are made where and what needs and roster opportunities remain, the answers are here.

The New Orleans Saints’ uncharacteristic, but fruitful, starter in the open market yielded great talent. Running back Travis Etienne Jr., guard David Edwards, linebacker Kaden Elliss, tight end Noah Fant and punter Ryan Wright all join (or re-join in Elliss’ case) the franchise and help the team take notable steps forward.

Despite the exciting additions, there’s more work to be done along the roster. This post-free agency mock draft is directed at impact at key positions that could still use attention and building out depth.

Saints’ Remaining Team Needs

For the most part, starters are in place. The goal now becomes adding talent to important areas of the team and building out depth. But there are some noticeable areas where those additions can be made.

Wide receiver
Edge rusher
Cornerback (slot/STAR)
Offensive line depth
Veteran quarterback
Interior defensive line

Who’s Off the Board?

Before we can begin to address those areas, we have to know who’s on and off the board. Here are the first seven selections of this mock draft, which includes the unlikely scenario of no offensive lineman being selected first. That would effectively be a “worst-case scenario” for New Orleans, with the maximum number of skill positions and defenders being taken ahead of them.

But as is evident, the Saints can still come away with a top-tier player even in that instance.

1.1: Las Vegas Raiders select Indiana QB Fernando Mendoza

1.2: New York Jets select Ohio State LB Sonny Styles

1.3: Arizona Cardinals select Notre Dame RB Jeremiyah Love

1.4: Tennessee Titans select Ohio State LB Arvell Reese

1.5: New York Giants select Texas Tech EDGE David Bailey

1.6: Cleveland Browns select Miami EDGE Rueben Bain Jr.

1.7: Washington Commanders select Ohio State S Caleb Downs

On the Board

Ohio State WR Carnell Tate
Arizona State WR Jordyn Tyson
USC WR Makai Lemon
LSU CB Mansoor Delane

Round 1, Pick 8: Ohio State WR Carnell Tate

Height: 6-foot-2
Weight: 192 pounds
Arm length: 31 ¾ inches
Hand size: 10 ¼ inches

2025 Stats

Catches: 51
Receiving yards: 875
Receiving TDs: 9
Yard per catch: 17.2
Yards per route run: 3.02 (fourth in 2026 WR class)
Drops: 0

Combine Results

40-yard dash: 4.53 seconds

With a pair of the best hands in the NFL Draft at the position, Tate would bring immediate impact to the Saints’ wide receiver room. Behind wideouts Chris Olave and Devaughn Vele, the team has a room with some potential. Tate is a sure thing. He can run every route, bring downfield impact and add another element to the passing game for New Orleans. While Tyson’s twitched up playmaking ability is tempting here, until there’s clarity on his medicals, Tate is the safer pick here. With a top-10 selection, the Saints will be all about safety.

Don’t let the disputed 4.53-second 40-yard dash time fool you.

109 seconds of Carnell Tate winning downfield pic.twitter.com/atVWDcMbYN

— Ian Hartitz (@Ihartitz) March 11, 2026

Round 2, Pick 42: UCF EDGE Malachi Lawrence

Height: 6-foot-4
Weight: 253 pounds
Arm length: 33 ⅝ inches

2025 Stats

Tackles: 28
TFLs: 11
Sacks: 7
Passed defended: 3
Fumbles forced: 2

Combine Results

40-yard dash: 4.52 seconds
Vertical: 40 inches
Broad jump: 10-foot-10

As I understand it, even with the potential of keeping edge rusher Cameron Jordan, who is currently still a free agent, the Saints are intent upon adding talent to the defensive end room. The free agency market has slimmed and the position’s top-10 options were off the board, but the group is deep in this year’s selection process.

Lawrence, an impressive athlete at edge rusher, has been consistently ascending throughout the draft process and could be a perfect fit for defensive coordinator Brandon Staley’s system as a stand-up pass rusher that can win with speed, agility and polish.

Malachi Lawrence is my pick for deepest pass rush bag in the 2026 NFL Draft pic.twitter.com/KRai5xqRNj

— NFL Draft Files (@NFL_DF) February 25, 2026

Round 3, Pick 73: Arizona CB Treydan Stukes

Height: 6-foot-1
Weight: 190 pounds
Arm length: 31 ¾ inches

2025 Stats

Tackles: 52
TFLs: 1
Sacks: 1
Interceptions: 4
Passed defended: 6

Combine Results

40-yard dash: 4.33 seconds
Vertical: 38 inches
Broad jump: 10-foot-10

New Orleans needs a new slot corner/STAR defender. With Downs off the board already in the first round, Stukes is one of the few remaining options. He’s an older prospect that will be ready to step into a tone-setting role. He has the physical playstyle, athleticism and energy to learn the role as his predecessor Alontae Taylor did coming out of college with far less slot experience.

Stukes doesn’t have much exposure as a pass rusher, like Taylor, but has much more experience in the slot coming into the league.

Arizona S Treydan Stukes

6-foot-1, 190.

Long speed over the top. Tracks the ball down the field. Explosive transitions/testing numbers (4.33 40, 38” vert). Can play as a split-field safety/low zone slot defender. Willing tackler. 4 INTs/6 PBUs in ‘25. pic.twitter.com/j4LIO559dk

— Matt Bowen (@MattBowen41) March 5, 2026

Round 4, Pick 132: Kentucky C Jager Burton

Height: 6-foot-4
Weight: 312 pounds
Arm length: 32 ½ inches

2025 Stats

Pressures allowed: 12
Sacks surrendered: 0
Hits allowed: 0
Penalties: 2

Combine Results

40-yard dash: 4.94 seconds
Vertical: 28 inches
Broad jump: 9-foot-3

Round 4, Pick 137: Penn State RB Kaytron Allen

Height: 5-foot-11
Weight: 216 pounds

2025 Stats

Carries: 210
Rushing yards: 1,303
Rushing TDs: 15
Yard per attempt: 6.2
Yards after contact: 3.77
Missed tackles forced: 57

Allen may not have participated in the NFL Scouting Combine, but the Nittany Lions are set to host their Pro Day on March 18 later this week. Ideally, Allen will get a chance to showcase his skills at that point. The thumper of a back did do on-field drills during the Combine and showed some positive traits. He’s a great short-yardage rusher that lives for and runs through contact with his physical run style, which could be another added element to the Saints’ backfield.

Kaytron Allen is one of those RBs that will make you ask yourself in a couple years “how did he not go until Day 3 of the Draft?” pic.twitter.com/YLioSszLlc

— LandonTengwall (@LandonTengwall) February 27, 2026

Round 5, Pick 148: Clemson DT DeMonte Capehart

Height: 6-foot-5
Weight: 313 pounds
Arm length: 33 ⅞ inches

2025 Stats

Tackles: 21
TFLs: 3
Sacks: 1
Passed defended: 2

Combine Results

40-yard dash: 4.85 seconds
Vertical: 33.5 inches
Broad jump: 8-foot-11

An athletic marvel at this year’s Scouting Combine, he’ll need time to develop into a more consistent producer. In round five, however, the team should be willing to invest in tools and traits. Capehart has each for days and can impact both as an interior pass rusher and run defender.

Defensive X-factor for Clemson vs UGA is their senior DT DeMonte Capehart. Listed as 6’4 320-pounds.

The battle in the trenches between UGA’s OL & Clemson’s DL will be a WAR ZONE! pic.twitter.com/SJjKDQBVyV

— Damian Parson💰 (@DP_NFL) August 31, 2024

Round 5, Pick 170: Texas A&M OL Ar’Maj Reed-Adams

Height: 6-foot-6
Weight: 314 pounds
Arm length: 34 ⅜ inches

2025 Stats

Pressures allowed: 14
Sacks surrendered: 1
Hits allowed: 0
Penalties: 9

Combine Results

40-yard dash: 5.28 seconds
Vertical: 29.5 inches
Broad jump: 9-foot-2
Three-cone: 7.88 seconds

As all guards in the NFL Draft are, especially this late, Reed-Adams is a development project. But his raw tools and size are promising. The 6-foot-6 interior lineman matches the massive build of head coach Kellen Moore’s Philadelphia Eagles offensive line. Adding Reed-Adams to the depth of the team and working to help him grow his game with newly added guard David Edwards, who went from fifth-round pick in 2019 to top guard on the market in 2026, could yield some exciting results.

Ar’maj Reed-Adams is a DAWG at Right Guard (even took some Right Tackle snaps in this one) pic.twitter.com/tmBzRySVIh

— Bengals & Brews (@BengalsBrews) May 8, 2025

Round 6, Pick 189: Washington CB Tacario Davis

Height: 6-foot-4
Weight: 194 pounds
Arm length: 33 ⅜ inches

2025 Stats

Tackles: 19
Interceptions: 1
Passed defended: 3

Combine Results

40-yard dash: 4.41 seconds
Vertical: 37 inches
Broad jump: 10-foot-3

Davis has been a go-to pick in this area because of his rare build at the position. He’s a combination height/weight/speed prospect at corner with the potential to grow into a rangy free safety at the next level if asked or potentially more. He’s physical enough that he can develop more as a run defender and the combination of his size and reach could make him an intriguing weapon from the inside if he learns that role. This is one of a few positions, along with wide receiver and edge rusher, that’s worth considering a double-dip in this year’s draft.