Saints' Draft Day 2: Defense in Focus

0:00It's April 24th. From kickoff to the final whistle, this is NFL News Today, powered by AI. I'm Corey with the story. The New Orleans Saints kicked off the 2026 NFL Draft by snagging wide receiver Jordan Tyson from Arizona State with the 8th overall. Pick that fills a huge gap in their passing game, but now heading into day two on Friday night, they've got glaring knees on defense. Think edge rusher, cornerback, defensive tackle, off-ball linebacker, and even guard they've got picks at 42nd overall in round two, and 73rd in round three, plus more tomorrow. Earlier this week, folks expected the Saints to grab an edge guy first and dip into the deep wide-out pool later, but talent like cashiest howl from, Texas A&M, Zion Young from Missouri, and T.J. Parker from Clemson is still hanging around early in round two. They need a solid partner for Chase Young on that line, especially with Cameron Jordan's future up in the air, and Carl Grandeson, not quite.

1:02Starter ready yet. Meanwhile, cornerback is stacked deep too, with names like Traden Stukes from Arizona, the Angelo Ponds from Indiana, and Jermad McCoy from Tennessee, who slipped due to injury. After losing Alente Taylor in free agency, this feels like a spot they'll hit hard, maybe even doubling up like they did last year with Quincy Riley. In round four, on the inside, defensive tackle stands out for a big nose to plug those run lanes. Guys like Kristen Miller from Georgia or Dominique Orntrum, Iowa State rising fast. Linebacker Deft took a hit without Demario Davis, so watch for CJ Allen from Georgia, or Harold Perkins Jr., from LSU to fit Brandon Staley's. Scheme, while safeties like Zaky Wheatley from Penn State, could add coverage flex. As the board shakes out tonight, the Saints could trade up or stand pat, but shoring up that D-line and secondary will make or break their offseason, glow up. Keep an eye on who they pair with Tyson to turn this roster around.