We are officially on day 2 of the 2026 NFL Draft, and of course, it’s time for a mock draft! The Saints went with Jordyn Tyson in round 1, which fully sets the offense up for success in 2026, but the defense must become the focus. The Saints have invested so much in the offensive side of the ball, and have let the defense take some major hits that need to be addressed. So, spoiler alert: this mock draft will be defense-only.
So many good options are available in the second round, and at pick 42, it was very difficult to make a choice. I could have gone with RG and completely fixed the offense, maybe EDGE, which addresses the top need, or nose tackle, and get Davon Godchaux’s replacement. This was the thought process, but Treydan Stukes, out of Arizona, was staring me in the face.
After Alontae Taylor left in free agency, the slot CB position became a major need, and Stukes may be the perfect replacement. He is excellent in zone coverage, a good tackler, 6-foot-1, with ideal arm length, great athletic testing, and a history of playing safety.
The belief is that the Saints will play a safety in the slot instead of a corner, as they did last season. As of now, one of Julian Blackmon or Jonas Sanker is set to move into that spot, but why not get a player who can play safety and already thrives in the slot?
If Stukes were a Senior Bowl prospect, this pick may be solidified if he’s available at 42, but because he’s not, the Saints may prefer a different prospect.
As I said, defense was going to be the focus in this mock draft, and EDGE legitimately needs to be addressed now. Waiting any longer is not a good idea, and one of the best players available fits that need. Out of Auburn, Keyron Crawford is a light riser during the draft process, and it makes sense why. Crawford is a very good pass rusher who can win with eye-popping agility and go-to pass rush moves. Being a bit undersized, Crawford does struggle at times against more powerful offensive linemen, especially in the run game, but unlike other designated pass rushers, Crawford is not bad against the run.
In Brandon Staley’s scheme, Crawford can play right away at that OLB position across from Chase Young, fitting one of the top needs for the Saints. Crawford brings a type of pass-rushing ability the Saints have been missing in their defense, and although he may struggle against the run at the start of his career, he has the potential to develop that part of his game.