The Saints addressed needs and got them at good values in the 2026 NFL Draft—but how would things have played out using the Wolf Sports big board?

 

Actual selections

1.08: WR Jordyn Tyson

2.42: DL Christen Miller

3.73: TE Oscar Delp

4.132: G Jeremiah Wright

4.136: WR Bryce Lance

5.172: S Lorenzo Styles Jr.

6.190: WR Barion Brown

7.219: CB TJ Hall

 

Wolf Sports selections

1.08: S Caleb Downs

2.42: CB D’Angelo Ponds

3.73: WR Chris Bell

4.132: G DJ Campbell

4.136: LB Harold Perkins Jr.

5.172: DL Zane Durant

6.190: TE John Michael Gyllenborg

7.219: WR Deion Burks

 

Thoughts

Jordyn Tyson is an extremely talented wide receiver, and he is another weapon who can create separation along with Chris Olave at the position—making things a lot easier for second-year quarterback Tyler Shough (and head coach Kellen Moore). We would have gone with Caleb Downs as our No. 1 overall prospect and a difference-maker in the secondary, but Tyson has clear potential to be an impact player if he can stay healthy.

 

In Round 2, the Saints took another player we liked a lot with Christen Miller, and we’d expect him to immediately be the best interior defender for Brandon Staley’s defense; they’ll be counting on him to be more disruptive as a rusher at the NFL level. Our choice there would have been D’Angelo Ponds, though, and cornerback was clearly a need with New Orleans signing Martin Emerson Jr. after the draft. Adding both Downs and Ponds into a secondary that saw Kool-Aid McKinstry emerge in Year 2 would have been extremely exciting.

 

In the third round, we would have given Chris Bell (our No. 31 overall prospect) a slight boost over Chris Brazzell II (No. 26 overall)—but they each were given the same Round 1-2 grade, and Bell already has chemistry with Tyler Shough after playing together at Louisville; also, he would’ve been a power complement to Chris Olave. In real life, the Saints took another player we like there in Oscar Delp as a well-rounded tight end with untapped potential as a pass-catcher.

 

Day 3 selections for New Orleans were headlined by a couple of additional shots at wide receiver with speedster Bryce Lance and dynamic Barion Brown—with Lance competing with Devaughn Vele and others for offensive snaps, and Brown likely to be a standout returner as a rookie. The team also took big Jeremiah Wright at guard, then addressed the secondary late with Lorenzo Styles Jr. and TJ Hall.

 

For our Day 3 haul, DJ Campbell would have been the choice at guard, Harold Perkins Jr. would have provided a perfect backup to Kaden Elliss in a versatile role, Zane Durant was ranked just a few spots behind Christen Miller as our second-ranked defensive lineman in the class, John Michael Gyllenborg would have been in a great spot to develop at tight end, and Deion Burks could have easily gone on Day 2 before lasting until the seventh round.