The 2026 NFL Draft is officially under a week away and the New Orleans Saints have some major decisions looming. One of these is what to do at safety/slot cornerback. While there are numerous options, the top two targets are Ohio State safety Caleb Downs and Miami cornerback Keionte Scott. But the question still remains, which one should they select?
This article is meant to display both the strengths and weaknesses of each prospect to help you make an informed decision on the selection.Â
With that said, it’s time to dive into whether the Saints should select Caleb Downs at pick eight or Keionte Scott at number 42.
Caleb Downs will spearhead the new look Saints defense under Brandon Staley
Caleb Downs is listed as a safety, but his role extends far past that. The former Buckeye saw snaps as a free safety, in the box and as a slot cornerback in 2025. He’s able to do this because of his elite IQ. Downs is always the smartest player on the field and knows everyone’s responsibilities. He would fill that leadership role that Demario Davis left behind and undoubtedly be a future team captain.
The biggest issue with drafting Downs at eight is positional value. Questions will surface on whether drafting a safety in round one is worth passing up on an elite wide receiver or edge rusher. Regardless of the media’s thought process, if Brandon Staley and the rest of the front office believes in Downs, he will be the selection.
Keionte Scott is a day-one replacement for Alontae Taylor and will help create a culture defensively
Keionte Scott’s impact against the run, ability to force turnovers, and mentality make him an enticing selection at pick 42. He would fill Brandon Staley’s STAR role and be the replacement for Alontae Taylor. He has a similar mentality to the veteran and fires up his teammates. Scott would help build a strong defensive culture for the foreseeable future. Additionally, waiting until round-two to select him allows the Saints to draft another impact player at pick eight.
While Scott’s an amazing prospect, he has some question marks in coverage. He struggles to defend quick, twitchy slot receivers and has choppy footwork at times, particularly when backpeddling. Although it’s a concern, these are all fixable with NFL-level coaching.
With that said, Caleb Downs has the slight lead
Overall, it’s hard to say whether the Saints should draft Caleb Downs at pick eight or wait and select Keionte Scott at number 42. They can’t go wrong either way, but if I was making the decision, Downs would be the selection. His versatility, IQ, and prowess in coverage make him a dream addition to the Saints defense.
Landing Scott in the second round would be great, but Downs is the better prospect. That holds more weight than anything else. Secondly, the Saints can't bank on Scott being available when they're back on the clock. The benefit of getting a splash prospect at 8 is counteracted by the risk of missing on both Downs and Scott.
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