Saints Land Draft’s Top Receiver In Latest Mock

The 2026 NFL Draft is just over a week away, which means there’s time for Saints fans to look at another mock draft or two to prepare for the big event. New Orleans has the eighth-overall pick in the draft; hopefully, this will be the last time they have a selection this high for quite some time. Second-round pick Tyler Shough looked like the real deal down the stretch last year, and a full season with him under center should have this team chasing the NFC South title. The Saints must make this selection count, and Jordan Dajani of CBS Sports believes the team will land the top wide receiver in this class.

In his latest mock draft, the NFL analyst has the Saints selecting Ohio State wide receiver Carnell Tate. Tate, a Junior, finished the 2025 season with 51 receptions for 875 yards and nine touchdowns and is the first receiver selected in this mock draft.

“The first wide receiver comes off the board at No. 8 to the Saints, who pair Chris Olave with another talented Ohio State pass-catcher who will allow Tyler Shough to build off his impressive rookie campaign,” Dajani writes. “The Saints have plenty of needs, but Kellen Moore has his eyes set on offensive weaponry.”

Saints Select WR Carnell Tate In Latest Mock Draft

There isn’t a consensus WR1 in the 2026 NFL Draft class, but nobody should be surprised if Carnell Tate is the first man off the board. Measuring in at 6′-2″ and 192 pounds, Tate projects as a conventional “Z” receiver with the ability to consistently make plays downfield and in the intermediate part of the field. He knows how to find holes in zone coverage, separate against man, and get off the line against press. While he could stand to add a bit more muscle, there’s reason to believe he could get stronger on an NFL weight program. After all, he’s not the first player to enter the league needing to add more strength.

There aren’t enough good wide receivers to go around, and Carnell Tate has the potential to be a perennial 1,000-yard receiver. The only question is if he could reach that ceiling with the Saints.

Fit on the Depth Chart

Chris Olave is more than capable of being the WR1 in an offense, but the rest of the depth chart leaves a lot to be desired. With Rashid Shaheed now on the Seattle Seahawks, someone must step up as a reliable starter opposite Olave. While Devaughn Vele had his moments in Shaheed’s absence, he’d be better in a depth role. Tate has the potential to be a legitimate starter for years to come, and pairing him with Olave could give New Orleans one of the league’s better receiving duos.

The NFC South is one of the weaker divisions in football, and Shough gave Saints fans a true reason to believe in the future of this team. This isn’t a perfect roster by any stretch of the imagination, but this mock draft should give the Saints all the offensive firepower they need to win this division and perhaps even win a playoff game.