The New Orleans Saints fell to the Atlanta Falcons 17-19 on Sunday afternoon to end their regular season with a record of 6-11. This secures the Saints the eight overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, regardless of the remaining games. This position perfectly places them to get an offensive playmaker in April.
A win would’ve pushed the Saints down to at least the ninth pick, as the Cincinnati Bengals also lost. New Orleans holds the strength of schedule tiebreaker over them and the Kansas City Chiefs. No matter what happens between the Chiefs and Raiders, the Saints will remain at eight.
The Saints are picking one spot higher than in 2025, where they held the ninth overall pick. They selected Kelvin Banks with that selection, who started every game this season. They will be looking to replicate that pick with another star.
Saints should get Tyler Shough a first round weapon in the NFL Draft
The Saints could address defense early, but the offense is in desperate need of another explosive playmaker, which was evident in week 18. Luckily for them, this is an elite wide receiver class and has a game changing running back. Either of these positions would be a superb selection.
Jordan Tyson, Carnell Tate, Denzel Boston and Makai Lemon are stud receivers the Saints could select in the first round. Jeremiah Love has the potential to defeat any positional value arguments one could present. Each of these players will be given an in-depth review as April gets closer. As of now, the important thing is knowing that the options are there.
It’s vital that the Saints surround Tyler Shough with talent for the 2026 season. This wasn’t viewed as a huge issue heading into the year, with Chris Olave, Rashid Shaheed and Brandin Cooks each being options. However, Shaheed was shipped off and Cooks was cut mid-way through the season. Olave was outstanding for most of the season, but this week proved that the Saints need a contingency plan if he’s not available.
The Saints season is now over and the offseason is upon us. They have secured the eight overall pick, which could land them a dynamic playmaker for years to come. Regardless of their selection, it’s pivotal that the Saints provide Tyler Shough with enough talent to compete.