METAIRIE, La. — The 2026 NFL draft began in Pittsburgh on Thursday and continues with Rounds 4-7 on Saturday.
The New Orleans Saints made Arizona State wide receiver Jordyn Tyson their first-round pick at No. 8.
A full list of Saints’ selections is below and will be updated with pick-by-pick analysis through the weekend.
Round 1, No. 8 overall: Jordyn Tyson, WR, Arizona State
My take: The Saints picked a player at a position of top need, but it comes with a price. Tyson has an extensive injury history (hamstring, ankle, knee and broken collarbone). He’s aware of the injury concerns but said that he will do everything in his power to stay on the field this season, including hiring several people who can help take care of his body.
Tyson can be paired immediately with Saints’ No. 1 wideout Chris Olave, and he said he can’t wait for the possibility to play next to him. With Ohio State WR Carnell Tate off the board by the time the Saints selected, the pick makes sense, but health will tell the story of how this pick is ultimately viewed.
When will he be expected to get regular playing time? Tyson will play immediately if he stays healthy. The Saints lost two receivers last season, releasing Brandin Cooks and trading Rashid Shaheed to the Seattle Seahawks in the fall. That left little in the WR room beside Olave. The Saints didn’t chase receivers in free agency, which seemed to be a sign that they would target the position early. The Saints will want to get Tyson as many reps as possible with QB Tyler Shough this summer, and Tyson said despite his injury history, he’s ready to hit the ground running.
Is this pick for depth or does it fill a hole? This is not a depth pick, but a potential immediate starter. The Saints have admitted they are no longer “one player away” with a young quarterback at the helm, and they’re looking for a cast of characters who can make Shough better. Tyson joins a group of new offensive players that includes running back Travis Etienne Jr. and tight end Noah Fant, who are all expected to be immediate contributors on offense in the second year of coach Kellen Moore’s tenure.
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What Jordyn Tyson brings to the Saints
What Jordyn Tyson brings to the Saints
My take: The Saints continue to mold Brandon Staley’s defense with the selection of Miller. The 6-foot-4, 321-pound Miller can provide run support for a team that finished 19th against the run in 2025, and also an interior pass rush. How fast he can get significant snaps will be something to watch, as Nathan Shepherd and Davon Godchaux are both in the final seasons of their contracts. Godchaux’s snap count also decreased in the last three games of the 2025 season. The Saints can use Miller at different positions and will likely try to figure him into the rotation quickly.
What we’re hearing about Miller: Miller was asked about his style of play shortly after his selection Friday, and he said his mindset and versatility are some of his best traits. He described himself as a “Swiss Army knife” who can dominate at nose tackle, 3-technique and multiple positions.
“I can just do everything. I think I just bring that versatility to the game and just my mindset. … I think I’ve got the best mindset in class in terms of just like, I want to run through somebody’s face. I seek physicality. I want physicality. And that’s just what I was taught. That’s how I always been.”
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Christen Miller’s NFL draft profile
Check out some of the top highlights from Georgia’s Christen Miller.
Round 3, No. 73: Oscar Delp, TE, Georgia
My take: The Saints continue to stock up on potential pass catchers, adding a tight end in addition to Tyson. Though Delp played 84% of his snaps as an in-line tight end in 2025, per ESPN Research, he had 20 catches and a receiving touchdown, which shows his potential in the passing game. The tight end room has gone through a big change this offseason with Foster Moreau gone and do-everything player Taysom Hill unsigned. With free agent signee Noah Fant in the fold as well, this room will look different in 2026.
What we’re hearing about Delp: ESPN analyst Mel Kiper Jr. said he was surprised not to see Delp used more in the passing game at Georgia. Kiper said he was “underutilized for the talent that he possesses.” Delp had a total of 70 catches over four seasons for the Bulldogs, and according to ESPN Research, 40 of those catches since 2023 resulted in a first down or TD — the fourth most among SEC tight ends.
My take: Saints coach Kellen Moore has said that improving the run game is a priority this offseason. New Orleans made some moves in free agency to do that, adding RB Travis Etienne Jr. and G David Edwards. This is another addition that is intended to improve depth in that area. Wright, who turns 25 in September, is a former defensive tackle who switched to offense in 2022 and started the last two seasons at right guard for Auburn and played in the Senior Bowl, where the Saints have gotten a number of their draft picks from over the years.
Round 4, No. 136: Bryce Lance, WR, North Dakota State
My take: The Saints take their second wide receiver of the draft, re-shaping a room that lacked any depth before this week. The 6-foot-3 Lance continues a trend of the Saints adding taller receivers (one year ago, they didn’t have many tall wideouts in the room). Kellen Moore said they wanted a wide variety of body types, and now they’ll range from Chris Olave (6’0) to Devaughn Vele (6’5). Lance, who had 2,157 receiving yards and 25 receiving touchdowns in college, is the younger brother of Trey Lance.
My take: The older brother of Sonny Styles ran a 4.27-second 40-yard dash at the NFL scouting combine and his speed will be a big asset. He’s a former Notre Dame receiver who transitioned to cornerback at Ohio State. While he’ll have to compete for a position on defense (he played nickel at Ohio State), he could be an immediate contributor to the special teams units, and had a 100-yard kickoff return for a touchdown against UCLA last season.
Round 6, No. 190: Barion Brown, WR, LSU
My take: Brown’s primary role right now will likely be as a kick returner, and the former Kentucky and LSU wideout had an SEC-record six kickoff returns for touchdowns in four seasons.
The Saints now have an interesting dilemma at wide receiver after selecting three in the same draft — a once depleted position now has a legitimate competition heading into spring and summer practices for what will ultimately be five or six spots. As a Day 3 pick, Brown isn’t guaranteed to make the active roster but his prowess as a returner will give him a leg up. As a receiver, he can play both outside and in the slot.
Round 7, No. 219: TJ Hall, CB, Iowa
My take: The Saints acquired this pick via the Tyree Wilson trade earlier in the draft. Hall is another Senior Bowl pick, a game in which the Saints always extensively scout and draft from. Hall will be a depth addition to the DB room and a developmental prospect who will have to stand out in training camp to make the team. He led the Big Ten with 13 pass breakups last season.
