The New Orleans Saints have won three games in a row and show no signs of stopping. On the surface this seems great, however, their coveted first round pick continues to lower, possibly going outside of the top ten. Despite this, fans shouldn’t worry and should be ecstatic about the future with the team's development.
The Saints currently hold the eight pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. However, it seems unlikely they will stay at this position. They end their season against the Tennessee Titans and the Atlanta Falcons, both having struggled this season. A win or two could cause the Saints to drop outside the top 10.
This would be a surprise to many, as they were projected to pick highly for the majority of the year, however, Tyler Shough’s emergence has made them one of the hottest teams in the NFL.
The Saints won’t get a top pick… but that’s not a bad thing
Fans can look at these last few weeks and be upset about the falling pick and pushing themselves out of contention for a quarterback, but that’s not the only way it can be viewed. Conversely, Shough looks like a franchise quarterback, the roster is developing, and now they can select a playmaker for this offense or a foundational piece for the defense.
The Saints aren’t in range for a top player like Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza or Oregon quarterback Dante Moore but they still can select a star.
Offensively, they can select a dynamic weapon for Shough, which this offense is lacking. Arizona State wide receiver Jordyn Tyson is an outstanding route runner and is dangerous with the ball in his hands and Notre Dame running back is electric with the ball and is challenging to bring down. Either of those two would be a fabulous pick.
They also could go defense, with the all-around, athletic freak Ohio State linebacker Sonny Styles or the smartest player in college football with Ohio State safety Caleb Downs. Both of them would be a foundational piece for years to come on defense.
The Saints pick may be falling, but fans shouldn’t be upset about that. They don't need a quarterback, so this holds a little less weight. They are still set up perfectly to select a foundational piece on the team for years to come.