What makes for a great draft pick for the New Orleans Saints (6-11) in the first round of this year's NFL draft? It's the question many of us are asking as mock drafts continue to pour in over the last few weeks.

We are not going to grade a draft pick before the player takes the field. Certainly, most people who questioned Tyler Shough's selection missed badly on negative projections. We will share which picks in which we feel most confident. With that, let's look at how we would view a handful of potential Saints selections at the No. 8 pick.

Home Run Pick

Miami edge Rueben Bain Jr., USC receiver Makai Lemon

There are five premium positions in the modern-day NFL: Quarterback, left tackle, edge rusher, wide receiver and cornerback. The Saints have three great players that land in one of those five positions in quarterback Tyler Shough, wide receiver Chris Olave and offensive tackle Kelvin Banks Jr. While the Saints may not be afforded a shot to draft a cornerback with great value at No. 8, they could have a chance to land an edge rusher or another top receiver with the pick. 

Star edge rusher Rueben Bain Jr. carried the Miami Hurricanes to their first national title game since 2003, while USC receiver Makai Lemon was named college football's best receiver when given the Biletnikoff Award following the season. Add Ohio State wide receiver Carnell Tate to the mix should he fall. If the Saints add any of the three players, look out.

You Can See the Vision

Ohio State Buckeyes safety Caleb Downs (2) celebrates a defensive stop during the 2025 Cotton Bowl and quarterfinal game of the College Football Playoff at AT&T Stadium. Jerome Miron-Imagn Images

Ohio State safety Caleb Downs, Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love, Arizona State wide receiver Jordyn Tyson, LSU cornerback Mansoor Delane

We reach the tier of draft picks that may have some disagreement, but most would view as potentially great selections. Running back and safety are low on the positional value ratings given how they impact the game compared to aforementioned premium positions, but both Downs and Love rank toward the top of the draft as prospects despite how their positions are valued.

Tyson and Delane may not be the first player that comes to mind at their respective positions, but both had highly productive college careers. If the players from the first tier are gone, these could be home run picks.

Maybe Great, Maybe Not

Tennessee cornerback Jermod McCoy, Clemson defensive tackle Peter Woods

Now we enter polarizing territory with a couple of picks. We are looking at too risky and too safe selections. On the riskier side is Jermod McCoy, who is trying to get back to full strength from injury. On the other side is Peter Woods, who may well be one of the best players of the last two decades at his position. That said, the Saints have to hit with the No. 8 pick which makes drafting a player with a recent injury suboptimal. And the Saints are not lacking at defensive tackle to the degree they lack elsewhere. So, while Woods may have a high chance of hitting big at the NFL level, the pick may be too safe for the Saints.

There are more ways the team could go with the No. 8 pick, but the above selections are the ones that are catching our eye. We'll keep an eye on where draft experts place the players as we get closer to the draft.