B-
New Orleans Saints
The Saints won the night they stopped Roush from sliding. Grade: B-.
by TBarin13 ·
2026 NFL Draft
· 8 picks
· 1 steals
· 0 reaches
The Saints did not reach, did not trade up, did not blink. They just waited, and Sam Roush fell into the Round 4 slot.
They punted on cornerback, and it is the miss that keeps the grade honest. Edge rusher was the priority and it is no longer a question, which is most of the job.
Nearly every premium pick went to that side of the ball.
Add it up and it is a good, unfussy class.
Pick-by-Pick
In slot 8 they get a ballhawk on the back end. More want than need.
Joshua Josephs at No. 42 is neither steal nor reach, just the going rate. That was the need underlined and circled, and now it is checked off.
They took Domonique Orange at par in the Round 3 slot, which is nothing to complain about. Another box on the needs board, quietly ticked.
Steal is underselling it; Sam Roush at the 132nd pick is a heist with the alarm still ringing. It plugs a real leak on the depth chart.
No edge and no loss on CJ Daniels in pick No. 136; it is a wash and a sensible one. A must-fix position, and they treated it like one.
They paid sticker price for Drew Allar in the 150th overall pick, and that is fine. It fills a real need, too.
No drama and no debate, Aamil Wagner went about where he belonged in Round 5, Pick 32. Top of the wish list, and they did not leave without it.
By-the-book stuff, J'Mari Taylor at pick 190 squarely in line with his ranking. It patches a soft spot without any drama.