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JACKSON: Saints mock draft targets Caleb Downs at No. 8

Apr 6, 2026 | 9:00 AM

Jerome Miron-Imagn Images

By Ross Jackson

The NFL Draft is just weeks away. The New Orleans Saints are looking to continue an impressive offseason by putting up another contender for the league’s best draft as the club hopes to reopen its competitive window this year.

With some of the insight we gleaned from this year’s Annual Meeting, there are some intriguing pathways this class can go.

In this mock draft, a trade-up into the top three sends a top-rated pass rusher off the board and the other follows. How the Saints respond could be all about how they view one versatile playmaker in this year’s class. 

Off The Board

1.1: Las Vegas Raiders select Indiana QB Fernando Mendoza

1.2: New York Jets select Ohio State LB Arvell Reese

1.3: Dallas Cowboys (via Arizona Cardinals) select Texas Tech EDGE David Bailey 

1.4: Tennessee Titans select Miami EDGE Rueben Bain Jr.

1.5: New York Giants select Ohio State LB Sonny Styles 

1.6: Cleveland Browns select Miami OL Francis Mauigoa

1.7: Washington Commanders select Notre Dame RB Jeremiyah Love

On the Board

Round 1, Pick 8 – Ohio State S Caleb Downs

  • Age: 21
  • Height: 5-foot-11
  • Weight: 206 pounds
  • Arm length: 30 ¼ inches
  • Hand size: 9 ½ inches

2025 Stats

  • Total tackles: 68
  • Tackles for a loss: 5
  • Sacks: 1
  • Passes defended: 1
  • Interceptions: 2

The question the Saints must answer before selecting Downs at No. 8 overall is simple: Because he can contribute in the slot as a STAR/Nickel defender, does he qualify as a premium position player? If the answer to that question is “Yes,” then he should be an easy selection should the board fall as it did here with both top edge rushers off of the board.

If he is instead seen as a pure safety (a tough argument to make), then I’d suspect the Saints would likely pass here for LSU cornerback Mansoor Delane or their pick of the top-three wide receivers still available.

Round 2, Pick 42 – Louisville WR Chris Bell

  • Age: 21
  • Height: 6-foot-2
  • Weight: 222 pounds
  • Arm length: 31 ¾ inches
  • Hand size: 10 inches

2025 Stats

  • Catches: 72
  • Receiving yards: 917
  • Receiving TDs: 6

After passing on wideout in the first round because of the depth at the position in this year’s class, the Saints can instead reunite their quarterback with a familiar target. While signal caller Tyler Shough’s Louisville teammate has been the subject of campaigns from his former quarterback, the real reason to invest in Bell here is because of his incredible athleticism and explosive yards after catch ability.

He is, however, recovering from a late-season knee injury that required surgery, so doubling up at this position is something worth planning to pursue later if the opportunity presents itself.

Round 3, Pick 73 – Tennessee EDGE Joshua Josephs

  • Age: 22
  • Height: 6-foot-3
  • Weight: 242 pounds
  • Arm length: 34 ¼ inches
  • Hand size: 10 inches

2025 Stats

  • Total tackles: 33
  • Tackles for a loss: 5
  • Sacks: 2
  • Passes defended: 2
  • Fumbles recovered: 2

Athletic Testing

  • 40-yard dash: 4.73 seconds
  • Vertical: 38 ½ inches
  • Broad jump: 10-foot-9

With both of the top edge rushers going off of the board in the first round, finding Josephs available this late is a massive win. The long, athletic defender is a complete edge defender with his pass rush potential and noted run-stopping contributions. He could stand to add a few pounds to his frame to aid him against NFL-level offensive tackles, but off the edge, Josephs doesn’t leave a lot unaccounted for with his versatile skill set.

Round 4, Pick 132 – Georgia TE Oscar Delp

  • Age: 22
  • Height: 6-foot-4
  • Weight: 245 pounds
  • Arm length: 31 ⅝ inches
  • Hand size: 9 ½ inches

2025 Stats

  • Catches: 20
  • Receiving yards: 261
  • Receiving TDs: 1

Athletic Testing

  • 40-yard dash: 4.49 seconds
  • Vertical: 38 inches
  • Broad jump: 10-foot-5

A solid enough blocker in the run game, the Georgia tight end was increasingly underutilized in the Bulldogs’ offense as a pass-catcher. With only 20, 21 and 24 receptions in the last three years respectively, the athletic tight end who averaged 7.8 yards after the catch per reception last year has a much higher ceiling than that which he was able to display in Athens.

Round 4, Pick 136 – Stephen F. Austin CB Charles Demmings

  • Age: 22
  • Height: 6-foot-1
  • Weight: 193 pounds
  • Arm length: 32 inches
  • Hand size: 10 ⅛ inches

2025 Stats

  • Total tackles: 18
  • Interceptions: 4
  • Pass break-ups: 5

Athletic Testing

  • 40-yard dash: 4.41 seconds
  • Vertical: 42 inches
  • Broad jump:11-foot
  • 3-cone: 7.28 seconds

With Downs expected to take on the STAR/slot role in this hypothetical, adding depth to the boundary of the defense and special teams is the goal with this selection. Demings broke up more than 20 passes during his career at Stephen F. Austin and charted a total of nine interceptions. His inherent traits like his ball-hawking ability, athletic profile and size are all more than convincing enough to draft and develop the young talent at this point in the draft.

Round 5, Pick 150 – Ole Miss WR De’Zhaun Stribling

  • Age: 23
  • Height: 6-foot-2
  • Weight: 207 pounds
  • Arm length: 31 ⅝ inches
  • Hand size: 10 inches

2025 Stats

  • Catches:  55
  • Receiving yards: 811
  • Touchdown catches: 6

Athletic Testing

  • 40-yard dash: 4.36 seconds
  • Vertical: 36 inches
  • Broad jump:10-foot-7
  • 3-cone: 6.99 seconds

Just because Bell, the second round selection in this mock, may be ready to return for training it, it doesn’t mean that he’ll be conditioned and caught up enough to see the field to start the season. Those will be two different conversations. With that in mind, doubling up at wide receiver here seems wise.

Stribling brings x-receiver size with blazing speed and competitive toughness to the team. Each quality is one that the Saints covet or are in need of in their offense. 

Round 5, Pick 172 – Michigan DT Rayshaun Benny

  • Age: 23
  • Height: 6-foot-3
  • Weight: 298 pounds
  • Arm length: 33 ⅜ inches
  • Hand size: 9 ¼ inches

2025 Stats

  • Total tackles: 35
  • Tackles for a loss: 2
  • Sacks: 1.5
  • Passes defended: 2
  • Fumbles recovered: 1

Athletic Testing

  • 3-cone: 7.69 seconds

Benny isn’t much of a pass rusher from the interior, but his run-first success would be beneficial in the Saints’ defensive front. Defensive tackle Bryan Bresee impressed New Orleans by making strides in defending the run last year, Benny gives the Saints a rotational option that may lessen the dropoff when Bresee is off the field.

 

Round 6, Pick 190 – Auburn OL Jeremiah Wright

  • Height: 6-foot-5
  • Weight: 331 pounds
  • Arm length: 33 ⅛ inches
  • Hand size: 10 inches

2025 Stats

  • PFF Pressures allowed: 22
  • PFF sacks allowed: 5
  • Penalties: 3

Wright was a standout Senior Bowl participant and matches the size profile of head coach Kellen Moore’s 2024 Philadelphia Eagles offensive line. His combination of size and strength could allow him to develop into a contributor in the trenches with the right coaching and system fit.

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