Mock draft has Saints landing explosive playmaker to pair with Tyler Shough

Charlie Baduini

•
Mock draft has Saints landing explosive playmaker to pair with Tyler Shough image

The New Orleans Saints may have a quarterback on their hands.

Over the last few weeks, rookie Tyler Shough has come into his own as New Orleans' starting quarterback. Currently on a three-game winning streak, the former second-round pick threw for a career high 308 yards against the New York Jets last week and defeated two division opponents vying for the playoffs in the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Carolina Panthers.

But if the Saints want to make sure their quarterback has all the tools to succeed, they need to surround him with as much talent as possible, and that starts with the 2026 NFL Draft.

Saints predicted to land USC wide receiver Makai Lemon in mock draft

Pro Football Focus' latest mock draft has New Orleans selecting USC wide receiver Makai Lemon, landing Shough a premier weapon and a threat opposite of Chris Olave.

"Rookie quarterback Tyler Shough has shown enough in 2025 for the Saints to want to build around him, so a playmaker like Lemon makes sense here," wrote PFF's Gordon McGuinness.

"The USC star logged an 81.0 PFF receiving grade against man coverage, caught 66.7% of contested targets and dropped just 2.5% of the catchable targets thrown his way this season."

Olave is the only real pass-catching threat outside of tight end Juwan Johnson, and two-way threat out of the backfield, Alvin Kamara, is only getting older, so the Saints need to replenish their skill position players.

Lemon is a great first step in the right direction, and would give Shough a new weapon to work with as he continues to establish himself as the Saints' franchise quarterback.

More Saints news:

News Correspondent