What should be the New Orleans Saints’ top priority in the 2026 NFL Draft? They’ll have a chance to put out plenty of fire in free agency before the draft, but they should still have a plan on how to get better when they go eighth overall. NFL Media’s Daniel Jeremiah selected Notre Dame running back Jeremiah Love as the favorite in his last mock draft. This time around, he’s still trying to give Tyler Shaw more help with new weapons, but from a different standpoint.
He is the latest draft analyst to link the Saints to USC wide receiver Makai Lemon. It’s an easy-to-explain pick, Jeremiah writes: “The Saints are giving Tyler Shoff’s receiving corps a huge boost. Kellen Moore will know exactly how to utilize Lemon’s skills.” Lemon was the second receiver selected in Jeremiah’s mock draft and one of two receivers to go in the top 10. Arizona State wide receiver Jordin Tyson dropped to No. 14, and a few others moved into No. 20.
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Despite his smaller frame (USC was listed at 5-foot-11, 195 pounds), Lemon was known for his physical style, catching 79 passes for 1,156 yards and 11 touchdowns as a junior in 2025. He also rushed for two touchdowns and showed the same willingness to block that helped him stay on the field early in his career with the Trojans. Pro Football Focus charts Lemmon running out of the slot 75.6 percent of the time at USC, hauling in just four passes on 183 targets while earning 16 of 28 contested catches and averaging 6.8 yards after the catch. This way you can play
But is spreading love really the right thing to do? The best running back in the draft isn’t too far behind, as the Kansas City Chiefs select Jeremiah with the ninth overall pick in this updated mock draft. Instead, the last time Jeremy made a selection, he had Lemon go to the Los Angeles Rams with the 13th pick (the pick they received from the Atlanta Falcons). Lemon is a rising star at the NFL scouting combine. If he can resolve any issues regarding his athleticism, he could be a lock for a top-10 draft pick. The Saints are certainly watching him closely.
This article originally appeared on Saints Wire: Daniel Jeremiah Mock Draft: Saints select USC receiver Makai Lemon
