The New Orleans Saints could use one of their top picks in the 2026 NFL Draft to select a new No. 1 wide receiver for Tyler Shough to throw to, but Kellen Moore also needs to find some sort of way to give defensive coordinator Brandon Staley enough pass rushers to remain competitive in the NFC South.
With the Saints in possession of another top-50 pick in the second round, names like UCF's Malachi Lawrence and Missouri's Zion Young could be on the radar for them, even though both of them have completely different skillsets and need to be utilized properly in order to get the most out of them.
While Lawrence and Young play totally differently, and it may force Staley to make some changes in order to get one of them on the field at the same time as the stars of this defense, there's a scenario wherein both of them can come to New Orleans and cement themselves as a piece of the long-term furniture.
Malachi Lawrence, Zion Young could join Saints in 2026 NFL Draft
Lawrence is not going to play the run very well, and with a very thin frame, the Saints may decide that using such a high pick on someone who is not able to put his hand in the dirt and set the edge is taking a massive risk from a schematic point of view. However, the athletic gifts are too good to pass up.
Lawrence flies off the edge with reckless abandon, and with a very deep array of moves he can use to get to the quarterback, he has a more developed plan of attack if pure speed doesn't work. Even early in his career, the Saints could expect him to challenge for double-digit sacks in the right defense.
Young has some off-field concerns that will scare teams away, including a DWI arrest in December and another fight at Michigan State. On the field, he also lacks ideal bend and speed, which may rule him out for teams who want to play a ton of 3-4 looks and need him to get to the quarterback above all else.
Where Young can impress New Orleans is with his ability to defend the run, pure power as a pass rusher, and surprising first step. Young is definitely a safer bet than Lawrence.
As different as these two are, both of them need to be on the Saints' radar, as there is a good chance that New Orleans will use their top pick on an offensive player and both of these players will be available in the second round.