Saints Mock Draft Monday: Tate, Bailey Top Picks

NFL experts weigh in on who the New Orleans Saints could select in the 2026 NFL Draft

Mar. 30, 2026 at 8:54pm

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A fragmented, cubist-style painting depicting a football game in motion, with players and the field broken down into sharp, overlapping geometric shapes and planes in a variety of colors, capturing the dynamic energy and strategic complexity of the game.The Saints' draft plans come into focus as they weigh options to bolster their roster through the 2026 NFL Draft.New Orleans Today

The New Orleans Saints are a popular pick for wide receiver and edge rusher in the latest round of NFL mock drafts, with Ohio State's Carnell Tate and Texas Tech's David Bailey emerging as the top prospects mocked to the Saints in the first round.

Why it matters

The Saints are looking to build around second-year quarterback Tyler Shough, and adding top-tier talent at wide receiver and edge rusher could significantly boost their offense and defense. With the No. 8 overall pick, the Saints have a prime opportunity to land an impact player who can help them contend in the NFC South.

The details

In the latest round of mock drafts, Tate and Bailey were each mocked to the Saints nine times from March 23-29. Analysts praised Tate's polished route-running and ability to win contested catches, while Bailey was lauded for his elite first-step quickness and potential as a pass-rushing specialist. LSU cornerback Mansoor Delane was the third-most common pick for the Saints, appearing in eight mocks over that span.

  • The 2026 NFL Draft will take place from April 24-26, 2026.

The players

Carnell Tate

A wide receiver from Ohio State who is praised for his polished route-running, ability to win contested catches, and potential to become a top target in the NFL.

David Bailey

An edge rusher from Texas Tech known for his elite first-step quickness, elusiveness, and potential to develop into a dominant pass-rushing specialist.

Mansoor Delane

A cornerback from LSU who was a shutdown defender in 2025, allowing a passer rating of just 26.7 when targeted.

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What they’re saying

“New Orleans' No. 8 pick feels like a major pivot point in this draft, with wide receiver and edge rusher standing out as co-favorite paths. I gave the Saints Tate here because he fits Kellen Moore's stated desire for a diverse receiver room while giving Tyler Shough an ideal complement to Chris Olave.”

— Mike Band, NFL.com

“If Bailey's available, I think he's the pick here. NFL teams covet guys who get home as pass rushers, and there's no more proven commodity in that regard than Bailey; last year, he led the nation with 14.5 sacks, was second nationally with 19.5 TFL, and had a pass rush win rate of 21.6 percent, second in the class behind Rueben Bain Jr. (23.5 percent).”

— Todd McShay

“Mansoor Delane crushed his LSU Pro Day with a blazing 4.35-second 40-yard dash. That's on top of leading the SEC with a 24.1 passer rating allowed when targeted, the best mark in the conference among 82 players with at least 30 targets.”

— Garrett Podell, CBS Sports

What’s next

The Saints will continue to evaluate prospects and finalize their draft board ahead of the 2026 NFL Draft in late April.

The takeaway

The Saints have a prime opportunity to add top-tier talent at wide receiver and edge rusher with the No. 8 overall pick, which could significantly bolster their offense and defense as they look to build around second-year quarterback Tyler Shough.