NFL Draft: Saints' Ideal Pick at 8th

It's March 20th, here's your NFL news in two minutes, subscribe to stay locked in all season.

NFL Draft Expert Daniel Jeremiah released his 2026 mock draft 3.0 this week.

In it, he has the New Orleans Saints grabbing Texas Tech ed rusher David Bailey with the eighth overall pick.

Bailey put up monster numbers in 2025, including 14 and a half sacks and 19 and a half tackles for loss.

He backed that up at the combine with a 4.5 40 yard dash, a 10 foot 9 broad jump and a 35 inch vertical leap showing off.

His elite athletic traits, Bailey stock has dipped a touch from earlier projections as high as second overall.

That slide comes partly from the rise of prospects like Ohio State linebacker sunny styles and Notre Dame running back Jeremiah Love, who often land.

In Saints Mox, meanwhile, New Orleans faces big gaps on defense after losing veterans like longtime ed rusher Cameron Jordan to free agency.

Chase Young has stepped up nicely, but the team wants more pass rush juice, especially after prioritizing offense this off season.

With defensive coordinator Brandon Staley in place and a top 10 pick handy, Bailey looks like an ideal target if he slips to eight, filling a key.

Need right away.