With the 2026 season set to kick off tomorrow, the Saints are looking to make a run at winning the division, but that does not mean they will not also be preparing for the upcoming 2027 NFL Draft and evaluating what improvements they will need to make to increase the overall quality of the roster. Here are a few players to keep your eye on today as college football games get underway.
Many draft analysts are expecting the Saints to be in the market for an elite edge rusher, and the name that has been closely associated with the Saints this summer has been Colin Simmons. Simmons plays for Texas and is a well-known prospect, especially among LSU fans, as LSU was almost able to get him to commit over the University of Texas. Simmons will be facing off against top-ranked Ohio State today in a primetime matchup. Simmons is currently ranked as the No. 1 edge rusher in the upcoming draft.
Another name to watch at the same position is South Carolina edge rusher Dylan Stewart. Many experts see Stewart as the primary player who could challenge Simmons for that No. 1 edge spot in the draft. Stewart is viewed as a high-upside prospect. As a true freshman, he finished with 6.5 sacks, but even more impressive was his 91.4 pass-rush grade from PFF. Stewart will be facing off against Towson at 6 p.m.
Staying with the edge rushers, keep an eye on Jordan Ross. The SEC Defensive Player of the Week in Week 1 may not currently be considered a first-round pick, but he is a player who could find his way to the Saints if they decide to go with a different position earlier in the draft. Ross is in his third season and was an elite five-star prospect who spent his first two years at Tennessee. In his first game with the Tigers, Ross finished with one sack, a pick-six, two tackles for loss, four total tackles and a quarterback hurry.
Here is a position group the Saints could, and may actually, explore in 2027: tight end. LSU has the No. 1-rated tight end in the country in Trey’Dez Green. First, the narrative of keeping a Louisiana native home and potentially drafting him early would be a great story. Second, he would fill an immediate position of need depending on what happens with current tight end Juwan Johnson, who would be entering the final year of his contract next season. Green also adds versatility to the offense. He can provide some in-line blocking, but you can also flex him out, where he would provide a more explosive receiving threat than what the Saints currently have in the tight end room. Ross and Green will both be at home tonight as LSU faces Louisiana Tech at 6:30 p.m.
Finally, there is Notre Dame cornerback Leonard Moore. Moore enters the 2026 season as the No. 1-rated cornerback in the upcoming draft class. He could give the Saints the immediate lockdown corner many feel the team does not currently possess. Moore finished the 2025 season with five interceptions and seven pass breakups while earning a 91.8 overall defensive grade and a 92.5 coverage grade from PFF. He is, quite simply, a shutdown corner. Moore and Notre Dame will line up against Rice today at 2:30 p.m.
Who are some other players you would like to keep an eye on this weekend? Share your thoughts with us below in the comments.
