NEW ORLEANS — Mickey Loomis didn’t just plug holes in free agency; he built a launchpad. The New Orleans Saints approach the 2026 NFL Draft holding the No. 8 overall pick, and their offseason moves broadcast a clear, aggressive mandate: protect quarterback Tyler Shough and restore defensive violence. The front office struck fast this March, poaching tight end Noah Fant from the Bengals on a two-year deal and bringing linebacker Kaden Elliss back home with a massive three-year, $33 million contract including $23 million guaranteed.
I stood on the Superdome sidelines last December when Shough took over the offense. You could almost feel the tension in the air when the crowd held its breath before every deep shot. He delivered. Now, rather than forcing the young quarterback to carry the entire offense, the Saints are actively fortifying his supporting cast while simultaneously giving defensive coordinator Joe Woods some much-needed teeth.
Free agency gave New Orleans flexibility. They don’t have to draft out of desperation. If they want to give Shough a lethal running mate for Chris Olave, two names dominate the war room boards.
Ohio State’s Carnell Tate brings pure size and outside dominance. Critics point to his 4.53-second 40-yard dash, but film grinders know better. Tate didn’t just run routes for the Buckeyes; he bullied cornerbacks at the catch point. He offers a massive target radius that a developing quarterback relies on heavily on third down.
USC’s Makai Lemon offers a completely different flavor of destruction. Lemon turns quick slants into track meets. He averaged an explosive 96.3 receiving yards per game in 2025, ripping through defenses. If Tate is the possession heavy-hitter, Lemon is the after-the-catch lightning bolt. Either receiver instantly forces opposing coordinators to stop double-teaming Olave.
“When you get a young guy spinning it the way Tyler does, you don’t ask him to do it alone. You build the walls high and give him weapons that make defensive backs lose sleep.”
— Dennis Allen, Saints Head Coach
You cannot ignore the defensive reality in New Orleans. Cameron Jordan is 36 years old. While he remains a steady force, the edge rush needs an immediate injection of youth. Enter Miami’s Rueben Bain Jr. Some scouts complain about his arm length. Watch the tape. Bain bends the edge violently. Pairing him opposite Chase Young gives the Saints a terrifying defensive front that can close out tight games in the fourth quarter.
Then there is the local angle. LSU cornerback Mansoor Delane represents the ultimate “don’t overthink it” selection. Elite coverage men rarely fall out of the top ten. Delane spent 2025 locking down SEC wideouts, displaying fluid hips and aggressive ball skills. A true shutdown corner fundamentally alters a defensive playbook, allowing for heavy blitz packages without exposing the secondary.
The NFC South remains a fistfight. The Falcons improved, and the Buccaneers refuse to fade. The Saints sit at a crucial crossroads. Picking a receiver at No. 8 fully commits the franchise to outscoring opponents in a modern offensive shootout. Drafting Bain or Delane signals a return to the punishing, defensive-minded football that defined the team’s deepest playoff runs. Loomis holds eight total picks. What happens at No. 8 sets the dominoes in motion for the rest of the NFC.
