Jackson predicts the Saints will stay put and pick at No. 8 overall rather than trading up, and after Mickey Loomis' press conference he now leans toward New Orleans taking a defensive back there — either LSU cornerback Mansoor Delaine or Ohio State safety Caleb Downs — while still viewing Miami edge rusher Ruben Bain Jr. as a likely selection.

4 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 PicksCaleb DownsNew Orleans SaintsApr 23, 2026

  Caleb Downs to be picked at number 8

  “I'm starting to lean towards the idea of the Saints potentially walking away with either LSU cornerback Mansour Delaine or Ohio State safety Caleb Downs in the first round... at this point, I wouldn't be super surprised if it's Mansoor Delaine out of LSU or Caleb Downs out of Ohio State that ends up being the selection”

  Hit · 88Scored 87.81 on this pickthis mock ordered the draft 75 against a shuffle’s 50+25 skill
  How this was scored

  draft:

  2026

  naive:

  a shuffled mock scores 50

  skill:

  25

  player:

  Caleb Downs

  season:

  2026

  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:

  75

  Think this is wrong?

• Mock Draft PicksMansoor DelaneNew Orleans SaintsApr 23, 2026

  Mansoor Delane to be picked at number 8

  “I wouldn't be super surprised if it's Mansoor Delaine out of LSU or Caleb Downs out of Ohio State that ends up being the selection later on today for the New Orleans Saints.”

  Hit · 92Scored 91.7 on this pickthis mock ordered the draft 75 against a shuffle’s 50+25 skill
  How this was scored

  draft:

  2026

  naive:

  a shuffled mock scores 50

  skill:

  25

  player:

  Mansoor Delane

  season:

  2026

  zero at:

  32

  accuracy:

  91.7

  baseline:

  50

  actual pick:

  6

  difficulty:

  1

  weeks in the season:

  18

  pick accuracy:

  91.7

  predicted pick:

  8

  weeks left when called:

  0

  mock ordering score:

  75

  Think this is wrong?

• Mock Draft PicksRueben BainNew Orleans SaintsApr 23, 2026

  Rueben Bain to be picked at number 8

  “Well, I do think that Ruben Bayne Junior out of Miami, the edge rusher is a likely selection... I feel like I should have stuck with my prediction of Ruben Bayne Junior”

  Close · 74Scored 73.84 on this pickthis mock ordered the draft 75 against a shuffle’s 50+25 skill
  How this was scored

  draft:

  2026

  naive:

  a shuffled mock scores 50

  skill:

  25

  player:

  Rueben Bain

  season:

  2026

  zero at:

  32

  accuracy:

  73.84

  baseline:

  50

  actual pick:

  15

  difficulty:

  1

  weeks in the season:

  18

  pick accuracy:

  73.84

  predicted pick:

  8

  weeks left when called:

  0

  mock ordering score:

  75

  Think this is wrong?

• Team Draft Slot CallsNew Orleans SaintsApr 23, 2026

  New Orleans Saints to pick at number 8

  “I do believe the Saints will select at number eight overall, meaning that the idea of a trade up, I'm still not fully buying it.”

  Not settled yet. This is graded once the season it describes has finished.

  Think this is wrong?