Saints Have Options to Add Playmaker in 2026 NFL Draft

WWL Radio's Mike Detillier breaks down the top wide receiver prospects

Apr. 17, 2026 at 2:50am

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A fragmented, abstract painting featuring sharp, overlapping geometric shapes and planes in a vibrant color palette, conceptually representing the diverse skill sets and playing styles of the top wide receiver prospects in the 2026 NFL Draft class.Cubist visual interpretation of the dynamic 2026 NFL Draft wide receiver class, with each prospect's unique talents and playing styles deconstructed into a fractured, geometric composition.Los Angeles Today

The 2026 NFL Draft class is loaded with talented wide receivers, and the New Orleans Saints could be in the market to add a playmaker at the position. WWL Radio's Mike Detillier shares his top 5 WR rankings, highlighting the strengths and weaknesses of each prospect.

Why it matters

The Saints are looking to upgrade their receiving corps this offseason, and this draft class provides them with several intriguing options. With the team's need at WR, Detillier's scouting report could help guide the Saints' decision-making as they look to add a dynamic pass-catcher to complement their offense.

The details

Detillier's top 5 WR prospects are: 1) Carnell Tate (Ohio State), 2) Jordyn Tyson (Arizona State), 3) Makai Lemon (USC), 4) Omar Cooper Jr. (Indiana), and 5) KC Concepcion (Texas A&M). Tate is described as a well-rounded route runner with strong contested catch ability, while the explosive Tyson is the most gifted pass-catcher in the class if he can stay healthy. Lemon is praised for his physicality and versatility to play inside or outside, Cooper is lauded for his toughness and ball skills, and Concepcion is an elusive playmaker who must improve his consistency as a pass-catcher.

  • The 2026 NFL Draft is scheduled for next week.

The players

Carnell Tate

A wide receiver from Ohio State University who is built similarly to Courtland Sutton and excels as a route runner and contested catch receiver, though he lacks elite top-end speed.

Jordyn Tyson

A wide receiver from Arizona State University who is considered the most gifted pass-catcher in the draft class, but has battled hamstring injuries that raise durability concerns.

Makai Lemon

A wide receiver from the University of Southern California who is a smooth, physical route runner with the ability to play both in the slot and outside.

Omar Cooper Jr.

A wide receiver from Indiana University who is a reliable hands-catcher with good size and the ability to make plays after the catch.

KC Concepcion

A wide receiver from Texas A&M University who is an elusive playmaker with dynamic run-after-catch skills, but has struggled with drops at times.

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What they’re saying

“Watching [Tate] on film, man, he does a great job working the chalk, the sideline routes. He is sort of built along the lines of Courtland Sutton, to me, coming out of SMU. He's not quite as tall, not quite as thick, but they have a lot of similarities in their game.”

— Mike Detillier, WWL Radio Analyst

“The No. 2 guy and he would be No. 1 if he was healthy... If he's healthy, there is no doubt he is the most gifted pass receiver in this draft class, but you also cannot ignore availability or inability, and he did try to play through that hamstring and then pulled the hamstring on the other leg afterwards and he's fought that over and over again.”

— Mike Detillier, WWL Radio Analyst

“Tremendous slot player at USC, very confident, tough, hard-nosed guy, exceptional route-runner and he corkscrews you into the ground as a route-runner. He gets open and then he's not the biggest guy in the world, but he tries to run over you.”

— Mike Detillier, WWL Radio Analyst

What’s next

The Saints will have a chance to add one of these top wide receiver prospects when the 2026 NFL Draft kicks off next week.

The takeaway

This draft class offers the Saints several intriguing options to upgrade their receiving corps, with Tate, Tyson, Lemon, Cooper, and Concepcion all possessing unique skill sets that could complement the Saints' offense. The team will need to weigh factors like health, consistency, and scheme fit as they determine which prospect best fits their needs.