Rounds 4 through 7 conclude the 2026 NFL Draft on Saturday. The New Orleans Saints have already added Arizona State wide receiver Jordyn Tyson with their first round choice, defensive tackle Christen Miller in the second round, and tight end Oscar Delp with their third round choice. Tyson and Miller fill glaring needs. Delp necessarily doesn't, but New Orleans clearly saw value here.
Entering Day 3, barring trades, the Saints have two picks in the fourth round (132 and 136 overall), two in the fifth (150 and 172), and one in the sixth round (190). New Orleans addressed needs at receiver and defensive tackle with their previous picks, but not holes at either edge rusher or cornerback. Now, they'll focus on value and depth with a surprising opportunity to still add a highly-rated corner. Here are the best remaining defensive players who the Saints could target.
Many thought that the Saints would bolster edge rusher with their first round pick. Re-signing New Orleans great Cameron Jordan is certainly in play and most likely will happen. By ignoring better pass rushers for earlier picks, it seems apparent that the Saints are confident in a Jordan return.
New Orleans has young corners Kool-Aid McKinstry and Quincy Riley, but lost Alontae Taylor in free agency. Remember that the Saints got Riley in the fourth round last draft. Some of that same kind of value looks avaliable this year in Day 3 at this position. Scott and Lee were both projected to go as high as the second round. McCoy was a consensus first round choice if not for a devastating knee injury that has caused major red flags. Still, he's a low-risk/high-reward player as a Day 3 choice.
One glaring need from an improved New Orleans defense last season was the lack of a big-bodied run stuffer. That's why they targeted Miller in the second round. These other specific names are mentioned here for that same reason. All are wide bodies that don't fill up a stat sheet, but tie up blockers and clog inside rushing lanes while making a team much more physical in the trenches.
New Orleans lost elite linebacker Demario Davis this offseason. They brought back Kaden Elliss in free agency, but it's a position that comes into the draft with some questions. There's some decent value here. Any of these potential selections could at least push Isaiah Stalbird or Jaylan Ford for a spot on the depth chart and also be a potential special teams contributor.
A third corner or someone to cover the slot was the primary need. However, Alontae Taylor was a versatile defender who filled multiple roles. Additionally, the Saints have also relied on their backup safeties to be crucial roles on special teams. Cornerback is the much more obvious need, but the Saints could instead target a safety that bolsters the physicality of the defense with an added coverage element.
This article originally appeared on Saints Wire: Best defensive players remaining for Day 3 of the 2026 NFL Draft