FlurrySports projects three possible New Orleans Saints draft targets with the eighth overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, including Miami’s Rueben Bain Jr.
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The New Orleans Saints came into the 2025 NFL season with no expectations and yet somehow surpassed them, and fell short at the same time. New Orleans started the season 1-8, and it looked like they were in pole position to secure the first overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. Then, all of a sudden, things clicked for the Saints. They went 5-2 over a late stretch in the season which included four straight wins. Out of their six wins, two came against the NFC South division champion Carolina Panthers, and one came on the road against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The winning streak knocked them down the draft order, and they still might have more questions than answers.
This offseason is a crucial one for New Orleans, and they have gone out and made a few moves in free agency. With the signings of Kaden Elliss, David Edwards and Noah Fant, among others, it seems the Saints truly believe they can contend for the NFC South title in 2026. If New Orleans is looking to finish atop the NFC South, they need to hit on their pick. Here are three possible New Orleans Saints draft targets for the 2026 NFL Draft.
New Orleans Saints Draft Targets at No. 8
Rueben Bain Jr., EDGE, Miami
The Saints have plenty of issues on the defensive side of the ball, which is made even worse by the fact that virtually every team in the NFC South has a good offensive line. The Saints need to generate pressure next season to have a chance to improve on last season’s results. That’ll be hard to do if they don’t get some serious help on the defensive line immediately.
Unfortunately for New Orleans, they played themselves out of some of the elite talents that’ll be selected before their pick. The good thing for the Saints is that there is still a really good prospect that should be available in Miami edge rusher Rueben Bain Jr. Just like most of the other players that will be selected in the early portion of the draft, Bain can start immediately. What sets him apart from other picks is his unique skillset. He has the strength you’d expect from a defensive tackle while also having the speed and explosiveness that are so key for an edge rusher to have. He was also under the tutelage of Hall of Fame defensive end Jason Taylor while at Miami, which tells you he has had some of the best coaching an edge could have as well.
While he does have his flaws, his incredible athletic profile, coupled with his production and coaching at Miami, makes him a great option for the Saints with the eighth overall pick.
Makai Lemon, WR, USC
Many analysts and fans may think it’s too early to take Makai Lemon at this spot in the draft. However, it makes sense for the Saints to pull the trigger here with the eighth overall pick. Assuming the Saints believe they can contend in the NFC South, which seems reasonable given they finished just two games out last year, they need some more offensive firepower. It would appear they found their next quarterback in Tyler Shough, but they have not yet found a receiving corps that can help this team reach the playoffs.
Outside of Chris Olave, who himself is a huge question mark due to his lengthy history with concussions, the next best receiver on this team is either Devaughn Vele or Ja’Lynn Polk. Neither of those guys is anywhere near the caliber of receiver needed to get a team into the playoffs, no matter how bad the division is. This year’s receiver class is not the strongest overall. Still, Lemon has drawn comparisons to Amon-Ra St. Brown, and it appears his role in the NFL will mainly be in the slot. While Lemon alone won’t take the Saints’ offense to the level they’d like to be, he’s a good start and will be a fantastic complement to Chris Olave in an improving offense.
Mansoor Delane, CB, LSU
Unfortunately for the New Orleans Saints, wide receiver is not the only positional group that is both weak and incredibly thin. The Saints have a laughable secondary, if we’re being honest, and it needs new blood. Although the safety group has its own issues, the biggest problem stems from the cornerbacks. The Saints did make a solid pick when they selected Kool-Aid McKinstry in the 2024 NFL Draft, but he’s pretty much all the talent they have at the moment. Outside of him, the Saints’ cornerback room consists of Quincy Riley, Jordan Howden and Isaac Yiadom, to name a few.
The draw for taking Mansoor Delane at this pick is obvious. Not only is he likely the best cornerback in this draft class, but he is also a homegrown talent who won’t have to move far from LSU. Delane can be a day one starter in the NFL and would quickly become a difference maker in this Saints defense. Sure, the Saints would still be thin at cornerback, but there are still plenty of players they could pick up before the season as free agents as well that could help solidify their secondary. While defense is rarely the “sexy” pick, Delane is as good a pick as you can find at eighth overall.
