2026 New Orleans Saints Mock Draft: 7-Round Projection
Draft Capital: 5 picks | Overall Grade: B+ Last Updated: October 12, 2026Overview
New Orleans Saints enter the 2026 NFL Draft with 5 selections. Biggest needs: Offensive Tackle, Cornerback, IDL.
Complete Draft Class:- Round 1 (#9): Jordan Seaton, Offensive Tackle, LSU — Grade A
- Round 2 (#42): Ahmad Moten Sr, Defensive Line, Miami — Grade B
- Round 3 (#73): Sam Leavitt, Quarterback, LSU — Grade B-
- Round 3 (#84): Clev Lubin, Edge Rusher, Louisville — Grade B-
- Round 5 (#164): Benjamin Brahmer, Tight End, Penn State — Grade C-
Complete Pick-by-Pick Analysis
Pick #9 - New Orleans Saints: Jordan Seaton, Offensive Tackle, LSU
Rank: #6 overall | Grade: A Why This Pick:Offensive tackle sits atop New Orleans' need list, and even with Seaton sliding three spots past his rank, this is about as clean as value and need aligning gets. The Saints aren't reaching for a project here, they're getting a player ranked sixth overall at pick nine to anchor the blindside for years. With Arizona already having taken Trevor Goosby one pick earlier, grabbing the better-graded tackle still on the board is an easy call.
The Fit:Seaton slots in as the left tackle answer New Orleans needs, bringing elite pass protection with only five sacks allowed across 940 career pass-blocking snaps and a 79.7 career pass-block grade. His lateral quickness and mirroring ability let him handle speed rushers off the edge, which should stabilize protection immediately. The concern is the run game, where his 57 career run-block grade and inconsistent second-level work lag behind, so the Saints will need their staff to develop that side of his game while he holds up in pass sets from day one.
- Strengths: Elite pass protection: only 5 sacks allowed on 940 career pass-blocking snaps and a 79.7 career pass-block grade
- Weaknesses: Run blocking lags well behind pass pro, with a 57 career run-blocking grade and inconsistent push at the point of attack
- NFL Comp: Will Campbell (former five-star LSU left tackle who started immediately as a young blindside protector with elite movement)
Pick #42 - New Orleans Saints: Ahmad Moten Sr, Defensive Line, Miami
Rank: #37 overall | Grade: B Why This Pick:IDL sits third on the Saints' needs list, and getting a player ranked #37 overall fall to pick #42 is simple value. New Orleans already addressed the offensive tackle hole at pick #9 with Jordan Seaton, so pivoting to the best player available on the interior defensive line makes sense rather than reaching for a cornerback or edge rusher who grades out worse on the board. This is a value-over-need pick, but a defensible one given how close IDL sits to the top of the priority list anyway.
The Fit:Moten's explosive first step and active hands give New Orleans the kind of gap-shooting interior disruptor that generates pressure without needing scheme help, and his 9 TFL and 4.5 sacks in his lone breakout season show the disruptive upside. The concern is his fit in a 3-4 scheme, since he profiles narrowly as an even-front three-tech and his below-average anchor gets exposed against double teams and down blocks, a real issue in odd-man fronts. His short arms and upright pad level on extended rushes also limit him as a true every-down anchor, so he projects best early as a rotational penetrator who can grow into a larger role if the production carries over from his one standout season.
- Strengths: Explosive, dynamite first step to shoot gaps and win reps early in both run and pass
- Weaknesses: Shorter-than-ideal arms limit extension and leave him stuck on blocks against the run
- NFL Comp: Kobie Turner (productive undersized interior winner)
Pick #73 - New Orleans Saints: Sam Leavitt, Quarterback, LSU
Rank: #74 overall | Grade: B- Why This Pick:QB sits dead last on New Orleans's own list of eight needs, and taking Sam Leavitt here is essentially a bet on upside over immediate roster fit. The pick is barely a reach, going one spot ahead of his #74 ranking, so it's defensible as value even if it ignores more pressing holes at corner, interior defensive line, and edge. With bigger needs already addressed earlier in this draft, using a mid-round pick to develop a potential long-term answer at the sport's most important position is a reasonable gamble rather than a reckless one.
The Fit:Leavitt brings dual-threat ability, a strong track record of avoiding turnovers, and a knack for creating big plays once pressured, posting 7.8 yards per attempt when forced off platform. But at 6'2
- Strengths: Elite ball security with only five turnover-worthy throws in 2024 (1.1% rate, tied third-best among 156 qualifying FBS quarterbacks)
- Weaknesses: Below-ideal size at 6'2" and 205 pounds creates durability and sight-line concerns at the NFL level and will require adding functional muscle mass
- NFL Comp: Josh Allen early-career development arc (off-schedule creativity and pocket improvisation without elite wingspan)
Pick #84 - New Orleans Saints: Clev Lubin, Edge Rusher, Louisville
Rank: #71 overall | Grade: B- Why This Pick:Edge rusher sits fourth on New Orleans' need list, but after addressing tackle and interior line earlier, the Saints get a legitimate producer fall into the third round here, 13 spots past his rank of 71. In a 3-4 scheme that always needs pass-rush depth, taking the fifth-most-productive FBS pressure generator this late is good value, even if his ceiling comes with real questions.
The Fit:Lubin is undersized at 6-foot-3, 250 with short arms, which is exactly why he fell to Day 3 despite racking up 50 pressures and a 21.3% pressure rate against ACC competition. He wins with hand usage, not bend, running a deep rush plan of chops, club-swims, long-arms and rips to beat tackles who out-size him, and his motor shows up in his pursuit and three forced fumbles. For New Orleans, he projects as a rotational rusher early who can add juice off the edge without needing to anchor against the run, where his lack of mass and length still shows up.
- Strengths: Elite, relentless motor with second-effort production
- Weaknesses: Undersized at 6-3, 250 with short arm length
- NFL Comp: Josaiah Stewart (Kiper's comp
Pick #164: Benjamin Brahmer (Tight End, Penn State) - Grade C-. Day 3 value pick. Depth addition with special teams potential.