EDGE rushers dominate 2027 Saints draft projections

By Ross Jackson

It’s never too early to talk about the NFL Draft. At least, that’s become the trend in recent years. Immediately following this year’s selection process, where the New Orleans Saints acquired key impact players for the offensive side of the ball, 2027 mock drafts are linking Saints with defensive game-wreckers instead. 

The “way-too-early” mocks tend to pair the Saints with one of two star SEC edge rushers, a position the team was not able to address during the 2026 draft. 

Texas EDGE Colin Simmons

The Longhorns pass-rusher is expected to be one of the first ten players to hear his name called next April. At 6-foot-3 and 245 pounds, the disruptive edge-setter fits the mold of a modern-day standup rusher. 

His 12-sack 2025 helped to keep him on the map after a 9-sack 2024. He led the SEC in sacks last year. He also added 15.5 tackles for a loss, displaying acumen against the run. 

Pairing him for at least a year with established pass rusher Chase Young could help to create a fierce defensive front for New Orleans. 

South Carolina EDGE Dylan Stewart

The 6-foot-6, 247-pound pass rusher is coming off of back-to-back double-digit tackles for a loss seasons. He wrangled 10.5 in 2024 and 12 last year. His build and run-stopping prowess could be an excellent addition to the Saints’ defense as it continues to improve in that category. 

He has just 11 sacks over his first two seasons, making his projection less exciting from a pass rushing perspective as Simmons. But his development upside and build would give a team a lot to work with over his rookie contract. 

Should he develop further as a pass rusher, he could fly off of the board even sooner than already anticipated. 

Both of these players would become quickly impactful additions for the team. However, New Orleans will be hoping to miss out on both players. With each expected to be drafted inside of the top-10, it would be a good problem to have should the Saints win enough games in 2026 to be out of their range. 

However, falling in love enough to trade up after a positive 2026 showing wouldn’t be out of the ordinary for the franchise.