The New Orleans Saints Draft Grade reflects a franchise continuing to build around its young offensive core. After investing heavily in quarterback Tyler Shough last season, New Orleans used the 2026 NFL Draft to surround him with additional weapons while strengthening both sides of the ball.
The 2026 #Saints Draft Class! pic.twitter.com/veboNKQT0W
— New Orleans Saints (@Saints) April 26, 2026
Round 1 (No. 8) Jordyn Tyson – WR, Arizona State — Grade: B+
Round 2 (No. 42) Christen Miller – DT, Georgia — Grade: B+
Round 3 (No. 73) Oscar Delp – TE, Georgia — Grade: B+
Round 4 (No. 132) Jeremiah Wright – G, Auburn — Grade: C+
Round 4 (No. 136) Bryce Lance – WR, North Dakota State — Grade: A-
Round 5 (No. 172) Lorenzo Styles Jr. – S, Ohio State — Grade: B
Round 6 (No. 190) Barion Brown – WR, LSU — Grade: C+
Round 7 (No. 219) TJ Hall – CB, Iowa — Grade: B+
NO Saints Overall Draft Grade: B+
The Saints clearly entered the draft with one objective—continue building around Tyler Shough. Their first-round selection of Jordyn Tyson gives the young quarterback another explosive weapon, assuming Tyson can overcome the injury concerns that followed him throughout the pre-draft process. If healthy, Tyson has the talent to become one of the better playmakers from this class.
New Orleans shifted its attention to defense in the second round by selecting Georgia defensive lineman Christen Miller. His versatility and ability to defend the run should allow him to contribute immediately.
The Saints then returned to offense by adding tight end Oscar Delp before spending Day 3 adding more receiving talent with Bryce Lance and Barion Brown. Bryce Lance, in particular, could prove to be one of the better value selections in the middle rounds after earning an A- draft grade.
Overall, New Orleans balanced immediate needs with long-term upside. While there are legitimate durability concerns surrounding Tyson, the organization continued investing in its young offense while adding quality depth across the roster.
NFL Rookie Minicamp Results
The Saints held rookie minicamp from May 8-9 at the Ochsner Sports Performance Center under first-year head coach Kellen Moore. The two-day session emphasized teaching, conditioning, and introducing the rookie class to the organization’s expectations rather than physical competition.
Several members of the draft class officially signed their rookie contracts as camp opened, including Jordyn Tyson, Oscar Delp, Jeremiah Wright, Bryce Lance, Lorenzo Styles Jr., Barion Brown, and TJ Hall. One of the biggest surprises came from undrafted free agent Brock Rechsteiner, who impressed the coaching staff enough during his tryout to earn a roster spot.
Practices centered around non-contact 7-on-7 drills, offensive installations, and defensive communication. Coaches placed particular emphasis on pre-snap alignment, huddle efficiency, and overall attention to detail. With rookie minicamp complete, the Saints shifted their focus toward Organized Team Activities before mandatory minicamp later this offseason.
Which WR would you rather have in redraft:
Makai Lemon
Jordyn Tyson pic.twitter.com/v8EgcB2AzF— FantasyPros (@FantasyPros) April 28, 2026
New Orleans Saints Updated 2026 Win Total Projection
The New Orleans Saints enter the 2026 season with a consensus win total projection of 7.5 victories. Many bettors are leaning toward the Over. We’re not.
On paper, the second-easiest schedule in the NFL certainly makes the Over attractive. Add in a young quarterback entering his first full season, and it’s easy to understand why optimism has grown around New Orleans. But there are several reasons to pump the brakes. Start with Tyler Shough.
The Saints believe they have their franchise quarterback, but belief and production are two different things. Shough remains largely unproven over a full NFL season, and asking a young quarterback to consistently win close games is a risky proposition. If he struggles—or worse, misses time due to injury—the offense could take a significant step backward.
The defense also carries legitimate concerns. Veteran leaders Cameron Jordan and Tyrann Mathieu have been outstanding players throughout their careers, but both are another year older. If age begins to impact their production, New Orleans could struggle to slow down some of the NFC’s more explosive offenses.
Then there’s the division. The NFC South is no longer a guaranteed source of easy wins. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers remains the team to beat, while the Atlanta Falcons continue to improve its roster and playoff expectations. Divisional games are often the difference between seven wins and nine wins, and the Saints may find themselves on the wrong side of several close contests.
The draft class earned a solid B+ grade and should help the organization over the long term. However, rookies rarely change a team’s win total immediately. Can New Orleans exceed expectations? Certainly. But when evaluating the roster, quarterback uncertainty, an aging defense, and an improving division, seven wins feels more realistic than eight or nine.
For us, the Under 7.5 wins is the stronger position entering the 2026 season.
DraftKings has set the Saints win total at 7.5 for the 2026 season…
BE HONEST! Will the Saints have Over or Under 7.5 wins? pic.twitter.com/6aUbMqT1cd
— Trizzy Trace (@tracegirouard48) February 19, 2026
Thank you for reading our New Orleans Saints draft and rookie mini camp Article. You can read more of my content on my SG Team Author Page. Feel free to connect with me on X (@MarcSaulino) and follow @StatementGames to stay informed about everything relevant our platform.
