The New Orleans Saints head into the 2026 NFL Draft in Pittsburgh with the eighth-overall pick in tow.
While the Saints could use help in various areas, they can only use their first-round pick once. As such, the team could go in various directions. As insider Jason La Canfora notes in a piece published in casino.us, the Saints have multiple options available to them.
Let’s start with the most obvious choice. New Orleans wants to give QB Tyler Shough all the help he can get. The organization views Shough as the guy going into next season. And while a running back would not be a bad idea, Heisman Trophy finalist Jeremiyah Love will likely be gone by the time the Saints’ pick rolls around.
As such, the next best thing for New Orleans is to take the best wide receiver available. And that receiver is Carnell Tate out of Ohio.
Tate is nothing new here on Heavy. The expectation has been that the Saints take Tate since Love will most likely go in the top five. That’s why La Canfora offered this thought on Tate heading to New Orleans:
“The Saints love OSU WRs, and with the Browns being so heavily tied to Tate, why take any chances here? They think second-year QB Tyler Shough has a chance to stick and take their shot at what could be the most-impactful pass catcher in this draft class. The head coach is an offensive guy. He needs some toys.”
However, the Browns have the sixth pick and could easily scoop up Tate. If that’s the case, the Saints will have to pivot to another choice.
Saints Might Have Their Eye on EDGE
If Tate doesn’t slide to the Saints at #8, the best option would be EDGE Ruben Bain Jr. out of Miami.
La Canfora had this to say about him:
“He’s my favorite lineman in the draft… I’m kicking him inside in nickel and watching him kick ass.”
While the Saints could use some offensive help, it wouldn’t hurt to add a solid defensive player. As La Canfora noted, Bain Jr. is a great option. Taking the third-best defensive player inside the first eight picks says a lot about how strong this year’s draft class is at that position.
However, New Orleans may choose to pivot to another crucial position, even if it means passing on Bain Jr.
What to read next: nfl/new-orleans-saints/nfl-draft-saints-target-wr/” target=”_blank” rel=”noopener”>NFL Draft: Saints Targeting WR in Mock Draft
Shough Could Get Offensive Support in Different Way
Another way the Saints could support Shough offensively is by shoring up the team’s offensive line. La Canfora believes that Francis Mauigoa, out of Miami, could be a solid option.
“Even if he stays on the right side (and isn’t a left tackle), I think he’s their guy… Rebuilding the line will take more than one offseason.”
Considering how important it is to protect quarterbacks, taking someone like Mauigoa would hardly be a bad idea.
Nevertheless, the Saints will need some help. Most mock drafts have Mauigoa going at #3 to the Arizona Cardinals. But should the Cardinals go in a different direction, the situation could shift the entire 2026 NFL Draft.
That’s why the Saints may end up having the best offensive tackle land on their laps at #8. The consensus would be for New Orleans to take the best available player, regardless of what position he plays.
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This article was originally published on Heavy Sports
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