PREDICTION: New Orleans Saints Predictive 7-Round Mock Draft 1.0

The New Orleans Saints are poised to make a transformative first-round selection at No. 8 in the 2026 NFL Draft, with host Ross Jackson predicting Miami edge rusher Reuben Bain Jr. as their top pick—despite his 30.875-inch arms, the shortest in NFL draft history. Jackson argues Bain’s 15.5 tackles for loss, 9.5 sacks, and elite production at Miami outweigh physical concerns, calling him a perfect fit for Brandon Staley’s defense and a key to boosting the Saints’ pressure numbers, which ranked bottom 10 last season. The mock draft then pivots to a bold second-round pick: Texas A&M wide receiver Casey Concepcion at No. 42—a highly unlikely but strategically sound choice for a dynamic, return-oriented weapon with elite YAC ability. Jackson emphasizes the Saints’ urgent need to upgrade their wide receiver depth beyond Chris Olave, citing injuries to Devon Bailey and Devon Vele, and highlights a deep draft class of explosive receivers. The rest of the mock targets impact players at cornerback (Trayden Stooks), offensive line (Trey Zune III), tight end (Dallin Bentley), running back (Catron Allen), and defensive lineman (Tyree West), forming a cohesive, high-impact early draft class. Jackson concludes that even swapping key names—like replacing Bain with Jordan Tyson or Concepcion with a top-tier WR—would still yield a strong, competitive team build.