Every offseason, right around this time, there are a ton of mock drafts as every analyst tries to put together their take on what might happen. With the 2026 NFL Draft just a few months away and the pre-draft process already somewhat underway, things are heating up when it comes to deciding which teams should scout which prospects.
The New Orleans Saints will need to fill a few holes this spring if they hope to build a competitive roster around Tyler Shaw, and one of the most notable ones is at the skill positions. Wide receiver is not an ideal position for the Saints in 2025, and running back may end up being a need for the Saints due to Alvin Kamara’s injury history.
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One of the more recent jibes comes from Curt Popejoy of The Draft Wire, who has New Orleans going in a completely different direction and, instead, taking a player into the trenches. Here’s why he thinks so highly of Clemson defensive tackle Peter Woods:
With both Cameron Jordan and Jonathan Bullard set to hit free agency, we selected a swing interior defensive tackle in the first round. Woods still needs to improve his game to become a consistent every-down filler, but we like his explosiveness, lateral agility and hand use. We could easily see the Saints selecting Notre Dame running back Jeremiah Love or Ohio State linebacker Sonny Styles in the same scenario, but it feels like those needs could be filled later in the draft.
That’s going to be a tough pill to swallow with Jeremiah Love and Makai Lemon still on the board, both of whom would add exceptional firepower to the offense. While defensive tackle is certainly a necessity, Woods isn’t the type to fill that role long-term, especially with the lack of production he’s shown.
While this class is significantly weaker than others, at No. 8, the team is looking for a talented player who can help completely revitalize the team. Both Lemons and Love would be a good fit for New Orleans while also filling positional need quotas. Woods has a lot of needed physical attributes and has upside, but just hasn’t shown it yet, and the Saints need proven commodities to try and compete early.
On a positive note, Elijah Sarratt was drafted in the second round, and while he’s not in the same class as Lemon, he’ll add some size and decent production to the room. In the third round, the running back spot is taken by Nebraska’s Emmitt Johnson, who certainly has a very strong 2025 season but may not be the most versatile player out there.
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Selecting an elite playmaker early and then focusing on the trenches on day two of the draft or in free agency seems to be a common concept, which should be the blueprint if Love or Lemon is on the board.
This article originally appeared on Saints Wire: 2026 NFL Draft: Saints select controversial Clemson DT Peter Woods
