What are the New Orleans Saints going to do in the 2026 NFL Draft? Mock drafts are all the rage in the months leading up to the event, and many of them have the Saints working to get another weapon for Tyler Shough. But some others are leaning defense. Pro Football Focus NFL analyst Gordon McGuinness has them taking Texas A&M Aggies defensive end Cashius Howell. The 6-foot-2, 248-pound edge rusher graded well in PFF's advanced stats:
The Saints could go in several directions here, but Howell makes sense because of the class' drop-off at edge defender after him. He earned a 90.3 PFF overall grade and produced a 19.9% PFF pass-rush win rate in 2025, and he could form a formidable duo with Chase Young in New Orleans.
What about his raw numbers? Howell had 15.5 sacks and 22.5 tackles for loss in 26 games at Texas A&M, after he totaled 11.5 sacks and 13 tackles for loss in 30 games at Bowling Green. Like his Miami counterpart Rueben Bain, he needs to pass some important measurement thresholds at the NFL Scouting Combine to prove he's got the physical tools to compete with pro-quality blockers. He couldn't get past Miami Hurricanes right tackle Francis Mauigoa when they played in 2025, who McGuinness took off the board two picks later in this mock draft.
Frankly, there are other players available here who could do more to help the Saints in 2026. It's a shame they missed out on wide receiver Carnell Tate (the sixth pick) running back Jeremiyah Love (No. 7) but USC wide receiver Makai Lemon (No. 9) would give them another weapon who can win on contested catches. Arizona State wideout Jordyn Tyson (No. 11) would be a target, too. It's tough to believe the Saints would reach on Howell with those players availlable.
But this was a three-round mock draft, and McGuinness won us over with his second pick for the Saints. He had them double-dipping at Texas A&M by picking offensive lineman Chase Bisontis at 42nd overall. The two-year starter at left guard is arguably the best pass protector in the draft regardless of position. He would immediately start for the Saints between Kelvin Banks Jr. and Erik McCoy. His run blocking isn't as strong as his pass protection but if he can help keep Tyler Shough clean, we'll take it.
McGuinness rounded out his mock draft by linking the Saints to Indiana wide receiver Elijah Sarratt at No. 73, which would be a steal. Sarratt led the nation with 15 touchdown catches and would give the Saints a real playmaker in the receiving corps. And he's a bigger target than some guys already on the roster at a listed 6-foot-2, 213 pounds. We'll take the picks on Rounds 2 and 3 in this mock draft. Let's just really consider the options in ROund 1.
This article originally appeared on Saints Wire: 2026 NFL Draft: Saints pick Texas A&M star Cashius Howell in PFF mock