Ross Jackson · Jan 14, 2026
In a seven-round Saints mock draft for the 2026 NFL Draft, Ross Jackson has Ohio State safety Caleb Downs falling to New Orleans at No. 8 overall after two quarterbacks go 1-2, then lays out picks at 42, 73, round four, 137, 148, 170 and 189.
“the decision right off the bat... is Caleb Downs, the Ohio State safety at an array overall”
said on air, transcribed by us · Locked On Saints (podcast) · read the original →
17 checkable claims from this
Each one is scored on its own against the published methodology. A pundit naming several outcomes is graded on each, not on all-or-nothing.
- Mock Draft PicksJeremiyah LoveJan 14, 2026
Jeremiyah Love to be picked “off the board within the top seven selections” (picks 1–7)
“running back out of Notre Dame, Jeremiah Love... off the board early within the top seven selections”
Hit · 100Scored 100 on this pickthis mock ordered the draft 74.29 against a shuffle’s 50+24.29 skillHow this was scored
- draft:
- 2026
- naive:
- a shuffled mock scores 50
- skill:
- 24.29
- player:
- Jeremiyah Love
- season:
- 2025
- zero at:
- 32
- accuracy:
- 100
- baseline:
- 50
- actual pick:
- 3
- difficulty:
- 1
- weeks in the season:
- 18
- pick accuracy:
- 100
- predicted pick:
- off the board within the top seven selections (picks 1–7)
- weeks left when called:
- 0
- mock ordering score:
- 74.29
- Mock Draft PicksTacario DavisNew Orleans SaintsJan 14, 2026
Tacario Davis to be picked at number 170
“Then in round five, I picked one seventy. Went one seven zero, I went with Washington corner, Takario Davis”
Miss · 1Scored 1.43 on this pickthis mock ordered the draft 74.29 against a shuffle’s 50+24.29 skillHow this was scored
- draft:
- 2026
- naive:
- a shuffled mock scores 50
- skill:
- 24.29
- player:
- Tacario Davis
- season:
- 2025
- zero at:
- 32
- accuracy:
- 1.43
- baseline:
- 50
- actual pick:
- 72
- difficulty:
- 1
- weeks in the season:
- 18
- pick accuracy:
- 1.43
- predicted pick:
- 170
- weeks left when called:
- 0
- mock ordering score:
- 74.29
- Mock Draft PicksJordyn TysonJan 14, 2026
Jordyn Tyson to be picked “off the board within the top seven selections” (picks 1–7)
“no Jordan Tyson nor Jeremiah Love on the board for the offensive side either”
Hit · 96Scored 95.76 on this pickthis mock ordered the draft 74.29 against a shuffle’s 50+24.29 skillHow this was scored
- draft:
- 2026
- naive:
- a shuffled mock scores 50
- skill:
- 24.29
- player:
- Jordyn Tyson
- season:
- 2025
- zero at:
- 32
- accuracy:
- 95.76
- baseline:
- 50
- actual pick:
- 8
- difficulty:
- 1
- weeks in the season:
- 18
- pick accuracy:
- 95.76
- predicted pick:
- off the board within the top seven selections (picks 1–7)
- weeks left when called:
- 0
- mock ordering score:
- 74.29
- Mock Draft PicksTanner KoziolNew Orleans SaintsJan 14, 2026
Tanner Koziol to be picked at number 189
“we closed out this draft with... sixth round steal at pick one eighty nine with Houston tight end Tanner, Koziel”
Miss · 34Scored 33.86 on this pickthis mock ordered the draft 74.29 against a shuffle’s 50+24.29 skillHow this was scored
- draft:
- 2026
- naive:
- a shuffled mock scores 50
- skill:
- 24.29
- player:
- Tanner Koziol
- season:
- 2025
- zero at:
- 32
- accuracy:
- 33.86
- baseline:
- 50
- actual pick:
- 164
- difficulty:
- 1
- weeks in the season:
- 18
- pick accuracy:
- 33.86
- predicted pick:
- 189
- weeks left when called:
- 0
- mock ordering score:
- 74.29
- Mock Draft PicksKaytron AllenNew Orleans SaintsJan 14, 2026
Kaytron Allen to be picked at number 137
“The other selection at round in round four, just a few picks later at one thirty seven... We're gonna go with Penn State running back, Caitron Allen”
Miss · 11Scored 11.46 on this pickthis mock ordered the draft 74.29 against a shuffle’s 50+24.29 skillHow this was scored
- draft:
- 2026
- naive:
- a shuffled mock scores 50
- skill:
- 24.29
- player:
- Kaytron Allen
- season:
- 2025
- zero at:
- 32
- accuracy:
- 11.46
- baseline:
- 50
- actual pick:
- 187
- difficulty:
- 1
- weeks in the season:
- 18
- pick accuracy:
- 11.46
- predicted pick:
- 137
- weeks left when called:
- 0
- mock ordering score:
- 74.29
- Mock Draft PicksNadame TuckerNew Orleans SaintsJan 14, 2026
Nadame Tucker to be picked at number 148
“In round five, pick one forty eight, I went with Western Michigan edge rusher Nadame Tucker”
Miss · 0Scored 0 on this pickthis mock ordered the draft 74.29 against a shuffle’s 50+24.29 skillHow this was scored
- draft:
- 2026
- naive:
- a shuffled mock scores 50
- skill:
- 24.29
- player:
- Nadame Tucker
- season:
- 2025
- zero at:
- undrafted
- outcome:
- went undrafted in 2026; later signed with LAC
- accuracy:
- 0
- baseline:
- 50
- actual pick:
- undrafted
- difficulty:
- 1
- weeks in the season:
- 18
- pick accuracy:
- 0
- predicted pick:
- 148
- weeks left when called:
- 0
- mock ordering score:
- 74.29
- Mock Draft PicksCaleb DownsNew Orleans SaintsJan 14, 2026
Caleb Downs to be picked at number 8
“the decision right off the bat... is Caleb Downs, the Ohio State safety at an array overall... You draft him number eight overall”
Hit · 88Scored 87.81 on this pickthis mock ordered the draft 74.29 against a shuffle’s 50+24.29 skillHow this was scored
- draft:
- 2026
- naive:
- a shuffled mock scores 50
- skill:
- 24.29
- player:
- Caleb Downs
- season:
- 2025
- zero at:
- 32
- accuracy:
- 87.81
- baseline:
- 50
- actual pick:
- 11
- difficulty:
- 1
- weeks in the season:
- 18
- pick accuracy:
- 87.81
- predicted pick:
- 8
- weeks left when called:
- 0
- mock ordering score:
- 74.29
- Mock Draft PicksArvell ReeseJan 14, 2026
Arvell Reese to be picked “off the board within the top seven selections” (picks 1–7)
“Also off the board were Ohio State linebacker, a Arbel Reese”
Hit · 100Scored 100 on this pickthis mock ordered the draft 74.29 against a shuffle’s 50+24.29 skillHow this was scored
- draft:
- 2026
- naive:
- a shuffled mock scores 50
- skill:
- 24.29
- player:
- Arvell Reese
- season:
- 2025
- zero at:
- 32
- accuracy:
- 100
- baseline:
- 50
- actual pick:
- 5
- difficulty:
- 1
- weeks in the season:
- 18
- pick accuracy:
- 100
- predicted pick:
- off the board within the top seven selections (picks 1–7)
- weeks left when called:
- 0
- mock ordering score:
- 74.29
- Mock Draft PicksRueben BainJan 14, 2026
Rueben Bain to be picked “off the board within the top seven selections” (picks 1–7)
“Miami edge rusher, Reuben Bain junior... off the board early within the top seven selections”
Close · 71Scored 70.71 on this pickthis mock ordered the draft 74.29 against a shuffle’s 50+24.29 skillHow this was scored
- draft:
- 2026
- naive:
- a shuffled mock scores 50
- skill:
- 24.29
- player:
- Rueben Bain
- season:
- 2025
- zero at:
- 32
- accuracy:
- 70.71
- baseline:
- 50
- actual pick:
- 15
- difficulty:
- 1
- weeks in the season:
- 18
- pick accuracy:
- 70.71
- predicted pick:
- off the board within the top seven selections (picks 1–7)
- weeks left when called:
- 0
- mock ordering score:
- 74.29
- Mock Draft PicksDavid BaileyJan 14, 2026
David Bailey to be picked “surefire top 10, top 15 selection” (picks 1–10)
“tied with surefire top 10, top 15 selection in this year's draft David Bailey out of Texas Tech”
Miss · 0Scored 0 on this pickthis mock ordered the draft 74.29 against a shuffle’s 50+24.29 skillHow this was scored
- draft:
- 2026
- naive:
- a shuffled mock scores 50
- skill:
- 24.29
- player:
- David Bailey
- season:
- 2025
- zero at:
- undrafted
- outcome:
- went undrafted in 2026; later signed with NYJ
- accuracy:
- 0
- baseline:
- 50
- actual pick:
- undrafted
- difficulty:
- 1
- weeks in the season:
- 18
- pick accuracy:
- 0
- predicted pick:
- surefire top 10, top 15 selection (picks 1–10)
- weeks left when called:
- 0
- mock ordering score:
- 74.29
Emmanuel Pregnon to be picked at number 42
“Let's jump real quick to pick 42, which is in the second round... So I went with Oregon offensive lineman, Emmanuel Pregnon”
Miss · 14Scored 13.63 on this pickthis mock ordered the draft 74.29 against a shuffle’s 50+24.29 skillHow this was scored
- draft:
- 2026
- naive:
- a shuffled mock scores 50
- skill:
- 24.29
- player:
- Emmanuel Pregnon
- season:
- 2025
- zero at:
- 32
- accuracy:
- 13.63
- baseline:
- 50
- actual pick:
- 88
- difficulty:
- 1
- weeks in the season:
- 18
- pick accuracy:
- 13.63
- predicted pick:
- 42
- weeks left when called:
- 0
- mock ordering score:
- 74.29
Zachariah Branch to be picked at number 73
“Georgia wide receiver Zachariah Branch, who I took in round three at pick number 73”
Close · 77Scored 77.11 on this pickthis mock ordered the draft 74.29 against a shuffle’s 50+24.29 skillHow this was scored
- draft:
- 2026
- naive:
- a shuffled mock scores 50
- skill:
- 24.29
- player:
- Zachariah Branch
- season:
- 2025
- zero at:
- 32
- accuracy:
- 77.11
- baseline:
- 50
- actual pick:
- 79
- difficulty:
- 1
- weeks in the season:
- 18
- pick accuracy:
- 77.11
- predicted pick:
- 73
- weeks left when called:
- 0
- mock ordering score:
- 74.29
- Mock Draft PicksElijah SarrattJan 14, 2026
Elijah Sarratt to be picked “off the board before pick 42”
“both Elijah Sarat out of Indiana as well as Chris Bell out of Louisville were off the board”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the season it describes has finished.
- Mock Draft PicksChris BellJan 14, 2026
Chris Bell to be picked “off the board before pick 42”
“both Elijah Sarat out of Indiana as well as Chris Bell out of Louisville were off the board”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the season it describes has finished.
- Mock Draft PicksDante MooreNew York JetsJan 14, 2026
Dante Moore to be picked “picks one and two overall”
“Fernando Mendoza going to the Las Vegas Raiders as well as Dante Moore going to the New York Jets”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the season it describes has finished.
- Mock Draft PicksTim KeenanNew Orleans SaintsJan 14, 2026
Tim Keenan to be picked “round four”
“In round four, I went with two selections here. First of which a defensive tackle, I went with Tim Keenan the third”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the season it describes has finished.
Fernando Mendoza to be picked “picks one and two overall”
“both of the top quarterbacks end up flying off the board at picks one and two overall with, Fernando Mendoza going to the Las Vegas Raiders as well as Dante Moore going to the New York Jets”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the season it describes has finished.