Saints show clear focus on WR class before draft

By Ross Jackson

Usually teams start looking for ways to disguise their interests going into the NFL Draft, but the New Orleans Saints are taking a different approach ahead of the 2026 selection process. 

This year, the Saints have not been concerned with hiding their very clear interest in the wide receiver class. From six top-30 visits and a number of additional private workouts and check-ins, New Orleans has become an obvious destination for pass-catchers looking to start their NFL careers. 

The Saints have or will reportedly host top-30 visits with all three of the class’s top wideouts, Arizona State’s Jordyn Tyson, Ohio State’s Carnell Tate and Makai Lemmon of USC. 

The team has also scheduled visits for Louisville’s Chris Bell (a former teammate of quarterback Tyler Shough), Georgia State X-receiver Ted Hurst and explosive Indiana wideout Omar Cooper Jr. 

With wide receivers Chris Olave and Devaugh Vele leading up the wide receiver room, adding more talent ahead of the lingering questions behind them appears to be an aim of this year’s draft. The class offers depth and versatility, with a long list of talented wideouts that can serve a variety of roles. 

Slot receivers, X-receivers, yards after catch threats and red zone merchants, the Saints could use the talents of just about any archetype thanks to the eclectic skill sets of Olave and Vele. 

This is a good class for a team that is looking to add to its passing offense. New Orleans isn’t hiding its classification as one of those teams.