This is the first New Orleans Saints mock draft after Day 2 of Senior Bowl practices, and context matters.
The entire Saints brain trust is in Mobile. Mickey Loomis. Jeff Ireland. Khai Harley. The front office, the coaches, and all of Saints media…all boots on the ground here in Mobile. The only person I haven’t seen is Kellen Moore. I even crossed paths with Loomis himself downtown, walking with the rest of the Saints brass through Mobile. If you have been paying attention to Saints media coverage today, you have likely already seen footage from their press availability.
That presence matters. It always does.
At least three players selected by the Saints this April will have practiced in this Senior Bowl week, if not more. This mock draft reflects that reality and leans heavily into what the Saints are seeing with their own eyes rather than what draft boards say on paper.
Round 1, Pick 8
WR Jordyn Tyson, Arizona State
This pick feels different.
Tyson would immediately give the Saints something they do not currently have: a clear, confident answer at wide receiver. The idea of Tyson lining up alongside Chris Olave and Devaughn Vele is exciting, and it would immediately raise the floor of the offense.
The Saints do have intriguing young receivers in the building like Polk and Palmer, but those remain questions. Tyson would be an answer.
He separates. He competes. He plays with confidence. And it is not lost on me that his name is Jordyn Tyson, named after two great Mikes: Michael Jordan and Mike Tyson. Saints fans would not mind adding another Tyson to the legacy list.
If he were on the board at eight, this would be a home run selection.
Round 2, Pick 42
G Emmanuel Pregnon, Oregon
This is one of my favorite selections in the entire mock.
Pregnon was phenomenal at guard this season, and truthfully, there is a very real chance he will not still be available at 42. But in mock after mock, he continues to slide, and if that happens on draft night, the Saints should sprint to the podium.
Cesar Ruiz has been a liability far too often. Dillon Radunz played admirably, but there is better available in this draft. Pregnon brings power, balance, and consistency, and he would immediately raise the level of the interior offensive line.
This would be a tone setting pick.
Round 3, Pick 73
WR Chris Brazzell II, Tennessee
I am enamored with the size.
Senior Bowl week has made me more patient with size prospects because you are seeing guys like Malachi Fields and Ted Hurst climb draft boards daily through performance. But Brazzell still stands out.
His frame, catch radius, and red zone utility would give the Saints a different body type at wide receiver. He would not need to be rushed into a major role, and that is part of the appeal.
Let him develop. Let him grow. Let him be a matchup problem.
Round 4, Pick 132
G DJ Campbell, Texas
This pick is simple.
There are questions on both sides of the Saints offensive line. Adding answers matters. Campbell would give the Saints flexibility and depth while also providing upside. While Pregnon seems ready for primetime Day 1, Campbell may need a little more time to develop based on his East-West Shrine Bowl reps against Landon Robinson
Two young interior linemen would allow the Saints to finally build a cohesive offensive line that can grow with Tyler Shough. That matters more than ever as the team transitions into its next offensive chapter.
Round 4, Pick 137
CB Davison Igbinosun, Ohio State
At 6 foot 2 and 193 pounds, Igbinosun brings length and physicality, two traits that matter in a zone heavy system.
During Senior Bowl team drills, he played primarily in zone and played it well. In one on ones, at least during the first session, he did not surrender a catch to Kevin Coleman of Missouri, Aaron Anderson of LSU, or Malachi Fields, who stands 6 foot 4 and 218 pounds and had moments where he looked dominant today.
To be fair, Anderson did get open on one route, but the ball went straight through his hands.
Igbinosun had a strong showing, and if the Saints could get him at this spot, it would represent excellent value.
Round 5, Pick 148
EDGE Nadame Tucker, Western Michigan
I owe him an apology.
Nadame Tucker, I am sorry, I was unfamiliar with your game.
That changed quickly.
In team drills, Tucker was dominant. He won multiple reps and recorded two sacks in a row, to the point that Saints coaches were visibly reacting on the sideline. When coaches start reacting, it matters.
This is the type of late round edge rusher who could carve out a role quickly.
Round 5, Pick 170
S Bud Clark, TCU (picture above from today’s practice)
Bud Clark brings energy, personality, and edge.
Day 2 was his day. The pads came on, and he started talking and playing at a high level. He fed off the environment, fed off coaching, and made plays.
The Saints could absolutely use his energy on the back end of the defense, especially in a unit that thrives on communication and confidence.
Round 6, Pick 196
RB Kaelon Black, Indiana
I do not care what PFF says about this selection.
This young man can play.
He has speed. He runs hard. He competes. He looks like someone who belongs on an NFL field. Of course, if there were a chance to land Love in the first round, you do it. But in every recent mock, Love has been gone well before pick eight.
If the Saints wait on running back, Kaelon Black would be a swing worth taking.
Round 7, Pick 233
FB Eli Heidenreich, Navy
Heidenreich made noise at the East West Shrine Bowl, particularly as a runner, and he would bring versatility to the backfield.
Either he or Black could pan out, and the Saints would be smart to take multiple swings at the position.
Final Thoughts
This mock draft reflects what happens when you blend Senior Bowl exposure, Saints front office presence, and positional reality.
This is not a fantasy board exercise. This is a Saints specific blueprint shaped by who the team is watching, who they are coaching, and who they are evaluating in real time.
If this class were to break this way, it would represent one of the more balanced and forward thinking Saints drafts in recent memory.
And it all starts with being in Mobile.
