Post-Week 6 mock draft roundup: Only consensus for Saints is a top-10 pick

It's looking more and more likely the New Orleans Saints will be picking top-five in the 2026 NFL draft, so fans should get an idea of which prospects may be on the board when their team takes the podium next April. And the good news is that there's plenty of talent at some key positions in this year's draft class. Whether the Saints are able to find their franchise quarterback or not, they should be able to improve their team when they go on the clock.

And while there's no consensus right now (which makes sense; we don't even know where they'll be picking), the latest round of mock drafts after Week 6's games do highlight some of the same names and positions to watch. Let's run through the list:

EDGE Rueben Bain Jr., Miami (No. 2)

Rueben Bain Jr. has been arguably the most dominant player in college football, but there are going to be questions with his length. His pass-rush production is mostly derived through a powerful skill set rather than elite athleticism. Spencer Rattler has played pretty well for New Orleans this season and does not look like the weak link in that operation. -- Cody Benjamin, CBS Sports

EDGE Rueben Bain Jr., Miami (No. 3)

It was a couple of years ago that I made the statement that Spencer Rattler “could be the steal of the draft,” and that statement appears to be on its way to being proven right. With the Saints having their future signal-caller, there’s no need to draft a quarterback. In this spot, the Saints draft edge rusher Rueben Bain Jr., a player with the true upside to be the successor to future Hall of Famer Cameron Jordan. -- Keith Sanchez, The Draft Network

QB Ty Simpson, Alabama (No. 5)

The Saints never should’ve spent a top-40 pick on a 26-year-old quarterback like they did back in April, and with all due respect to Tyler Shough, they should spend this pick on a passer with more upside. Simpson has flown up the board after a strong start to his first season as a full-time starter for the Crimson Tide, and despite a lack of elite physical tools, he just keeps making fantastic plays in clutch moments. He can make every throw with the right amount of touch or velocity, and Simpson isn’t fazed by stiff competition or pressure. -- Luke Easterling, Athlon Sports

EDGE Keldric Faulk, Auburn (No. 5)

For teams that might not need a QB this high, getting more fierce off the edge is a wise idea, and Spencer Rattler is definitely buying himself another year. -- Lou Scataglia, NFL Spin Zone

QB Fernando Mendoza, Indiana (No. 1)

A transfer from Cal, Mendoza has put himself in consideration as the top pick in the draft after a blazing start to his tenure at Indiana. Through five games, he's completed 73% of his passes and 16 touchdowns while also showing mobility. New Orleans will likely be in the market for a quarterback unless second-round rookie Tyler Shough impresses down the stretch. -- Seth Trachtman, Yardbarker

LT Kadyn Proctor, Alabama (No. 5)

It is very likely that a quarterback will go first overall in the next NFL Draft, as that’s exactly how it has gone in seven of the past eight years and 10 of the last 12. But if it’s not a QB, then it could be a defensive end or offensive tackle. And as both the book and the movie “The Blind Side” told us, the NFL pays big money to offensive tackles, specifically left tackles.

Thus LTs, like edge rushers, are a premium position, come draft night, every year. And Proctor is the top prospect of them all. -- Paul M. Banks, The Sports Bank

DT Peter Woods, Clemson (No. 8)

With Spencer Rattler playing good football, I’m going to avoid reaching for a quarterback with this pick. The Saints have given up 122.2 rushing yards per game so far this season, and the best player available could help them out in this area. Despite Clemson’s struggles, Peter Woods has continued to look like the best defensive tackle in this draft.

Woods features a surprising blend of strength and agility. He consistently sheds blocks by shoving guards off their line. Woods has a fierce swim move that is so fast, guards struggle to get a hand on him. He won’t always pop up on the stat sheet, but his 11.7% pass rush win rate shows that he gets in the backfield and affects plays. Peter Woods may not be the sexiest selection, but he is the space eater who you build your defensive line around. -- Bobby Bishop, Dynasty Nerds

This article originally appeared on Saints Wire: 2026 mock draft roundup: Only consensus for Saints is a top-10 pick