What should be the New Orleans Saints' priority in the 2026 NFL Draft? They'll have opportunities to put out a lot of fires in free agency before the draft, but they should still have a plan for how to get better when they go on the clock at eighth overall. In his last mock draft, NFL Media's Daniel Jeremiah went with a popular choice in Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love. This time, he's still endeavoring to get Tyler Shough more help with a new weapon, but at a different position.
He's the latest draft analyst to link the Saints to USC wide receiver Makai Lemon. It's an easy pick to explain, with Jeremiah writing that "The Saints inject a major boost to Tyler Shough’s receiving corps. Kellen Moore will know exactly how to utilize Lemon’s skills." Lemon was the second receiver taken in Jeremiah's mock draft, and one of two to go top-10. Arizona State wideout Jordyn Tyson fell to No. 14 and a few others went in the 20's.
Lemon is known for his physical play style despite his smaller frame (USC lists him at 5-foot-11 and 195 pounds), having caught 79 receptions for 1,156 yards and 11 touchdowns in his 2025 junior year. He also rushed for two touchdowns and showed the same willingness to block that helped him stay on the field earlier in his Trojans career. Pro Football Focus charting found that Lemon ran routes from the slot 75.6% of the time at USC, dropping just four passes on 183 targets, while winning on 16 of 28 contested catches and averaging 6.8 yards after catch. That'll play.
But is passing on Love really the right move here? The draft's best running back didn't fall far, with the Kansas City Chiefs taking him at ninth overall in Jeremiah's updated mock draft. Conversely, the last time Jeremiah made his picks, he had Lemon going to the Los Angeles Rams at No. 13 (the pick they got from the Atlanta Falcons). Lemon is a prospect on the rise ahead of the NFL Scouting Combine. If he can clear any questions about his athletic ability, he might lock up a top-10 pick. The Saints are certainly watching him closely.
This article originally appeared on Saints Wire: Daniel Jeremiah mock draft: Saints pick USC receiver Makai Lemon