Saints predicted to pair Chris Olave with elite WR as Tyler Shough becomes franchise QB

Jon Conahan

•
Saints predicted to pair Chris Olave with elite WR as Tyler Shough becomes franchise QB image

The New Orleans Saints could be in a position to address the wide receiver position early in the 2026 NFL Draft, and it wouldn’t come as a surprise if that’s the direction they ultimately go.

New Orleans has pieces on offense, but adding another pass-catcher remains an obvious way to help things in the future, especially with Tyler Shough expected to play a major role moving forward. He’s been great recently. 

The Saints don’t necessarily need a true No. 1 receiver, as they might have one with Chris Olave, but they need someone who can consistently get open and make plays.

That’s where Makai Lemon enters the conversation. He was great for USC this past year and would be a nice addition next to Olave.

Matt Johnson of Sportsnaut predicted the Saints would select Lemon in the 2026 NFL Draft, pointing to how he would fit into New Orleans’ offense.

“It is a testament to the strength of this draft class at wide receiver that three receivers could be top-10 picks. Makai Lemon did not get as much national attention this year, and he is a bit undersized at 5-foot-11 compared to his peers, but he is a playmaker. Lemon knows how to create separation, he can make plays after the catch, and he plays bigger than his size when it comes to bringing in 50-50 balls. Pair him with Chris Olave, and Tyler Shough will have a group of pass-catchers that can elevate his game even further,” he wrote.

The fit just makes too much sense. 

Pairing Lemon with Olave would give Shough two receivers who can make plays in different ways, which is often valuable.

More Saints news:

Contributing Writer