In a pre-free agency seven-round Saints mock draft, Ross Jackson has New Orleans taking Ohio State safety Caleb Downs at No. 8, Missouri edge Zion Young at 42, Georgia WR Zachariah Branch at 73, Nebraska RB Emmett Johnson at 132, Alabama DT Tim Keenan III at 137, Iowa guard Beau Stevens at 148, Texas LB Trey Moore at 170 and Houston TE Tanner Cazio at 189. He also expects slot/star defenders like Bud Clark, Keonta Scott and Traytan Stukes to be second- or third-round picks, Malachi Lawrence to go around top 100, and Alontae Taylor to leave in free agency.

13 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 PicksTreydan StukesMar 9, 2026

  Treydan Stukes to be picked “probably second, third round players” (picks 65–96)

  “trading stoops as well out of Arizona ... Those guys could be had a little bit later in the draft, probably second, third round players.”

  Miss · 31Scored 31.05 on this pickthis mock ordered the draft 91.07 against a shuffle’s 50+41.07 skill
  How this was scored

  draft:

  2026

  naive:

  a shuffled mock scores 50

  skill:

  41.07

  player:

  Treydan Stukes

  season:

  2026

  zero at:

  32

  accuracy:

  31.05

  baseline:

  50

  actual pick:

  38

  difficulty:

  1

  weeks in the season:

  18

  pick accuracy:

  31.05

  predicted pick:

  probably second, third round players (picks 65–96)

  weeks left when called:

  0

  mock ordering score:

  91.07

  Think this is wrong?

• Mock Draft PicksTanner KoziolNew Orleans SaintsMar 9, 2026

  Tanner Koziol to be picked at number 189

  “jumping ahead now to round six, our final selection pick one eighty nine. Houston tight end Tanner Cazio.”

  Miss · 34Scored 33.86 on this pickthis mock ordered the draft 91.07 against a shuffle’s 50+41.07 skill
  How this was scored

  draft:

  2026

  naive:

  a shuffled mock scores 50

  skill:

  41.07

  player:

  Tanner Koziol

  season:

  2026

  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:

  91.07

  Think this is wrong?

• Mock Draft PicksCaleb DownsNew Orleans SaintsMar 9, 2026

  Caleb Downs to be picked at number 8

  “Caleb Downs makes perfect sense for this team at eight, assuming that those medicals do check out.”

  Hit · 88Scored 87.81 on this pickthis mock ordered the draft 91.43 against a shuffle’s 50+41.43 skill
  How this was scored

  draft:

  2026

  naive:

  a shuffled mock scores 50

  skill:

  41.43

  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:

  91.43

  Think this is wrong?

• Mock Draft PicksZion YoungNew Orleans SaintsMar 9, 2026

  Zion Young to be picked at number 42

  “Alright. Let's move on now to round two, pick 42. ... I went with Missouri edge rusher Zion Young.”

  Hit · 88Scored 87.81 on this pickthis mock ordered the draft 91.43 against a shuffle’s 50+41.43 skill
  How this was scored

  draft:

  2026

  naive:

  a shuffled mock scores 50

  skill:

  41.43

  player:

  Zion Young

  season:

  2026

  zero at:

  32

  accuracy:

  87.81

  baseline:

  50

  actual pick:

  45

  difficulty:

  1

  weeks in the season:

  18

  pick accuracy:

  87.81

  predicted pick:

  42

  weeks left when called:

  0

  mock ordering score:

  91.43

  Think this is wrong?

• Mock Draft PicksZachariah BranchNew Orleans SaintsMar 9, 2026

  Zachariah Branch to be picked at number 73

  “there's a perfect opportunity for me to do so in round three, pick 73 with Georgia wide receiver, Zachariah Branch”

  Close · 77Scored 77.11 on this pickthis mock ordered the draft 91.43 against a shuffle’s 50+41.43 skill
  How this was scored

  draft:

  2026

  naive:

  a shuffled mock scores 50

  skill:

  41.43

  player:

  Zachariah Branch

  season:

  2026

  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:

  91.43

  Think this is wrong?

• Mock Draft PicksEmmett JohnsonNew Orleans SaintsMar 9, 2026

  Emmett Johnson to be picked at number 132

  “with the first selection of round four, pick one thirty two, I went with Nebraska running back Emmett Johnson”

  Miss · 28Scored 28.47 on this pickthis mock ordered the draft 91.43 against a shuffle’s 50+41.43 skill
  How this was scored

  draft:

  2026

  naive:

  a shuffled mock scores 50

  skill:

  41.43

  player:

  Emmett Johnson

  season:

  2026

  zero at:

  32

  accuracy:

  28.47

  baseline:

  50

  actual pick:

  161

  difficulty:

  1

  weeks in the season:

  18

  pick accuracy:

  28.47

  predicted pick:

  132

  weeks left when called:

  0

  mock ordering score:

  91.43

  Think this is wrong?

• Mock Draft PicksTim KeenanNew Orleans SaintsMar 9, 2026

  Tim Keenan to be picked at number 137

  “Going back to defense here as well, with Alabama defensive tackle Tim Keenan the third. This is at round four, pick one thirty seven.”

  Miss · 2Scored 1.63 on this pickthis mock ordered the draft 91.43 against a shuffle’s 50+41.43 skill
  How this was scored

  draft:

  2026

  naive:

  a shuffled mock scores 50

  skill:

  41.43

  player:

  Tim Keenan

  season:

  2026

  zero at:

  32

  accuracy:

  1.63

  baseline:

  50

  actual pick:

  232

  difficulty:

  1

  weeks in the season:

  18

  pick accuracy:

  1.63

  predicted pick:

  137

  weeks left when called:

  0

  mock ordering score:

  91.43

  Think this is wrong?

• Mock Draft PicksBeau StephensNew Orleans SaintsMar 9, 2026

  Beau Stephens to be picked at number 148

  “round four pick one forty eight, I'm gonna go with Iowa guard Beau Stevens”

  Hit · 100Scored 100 on this pickthis mock ordered the draft 91.43 against a shuffle’s 50+41.43 skill
  How this was scored

  draft:

  2026

  naive:

  a shuffled mock scores 50

  skill:

  41.43

  player:

  Beau Stephens

  season:

  2026

  zero at:

  32

  accuracy:

  100

  baseline:

  50

  actual pick:

  148

  difficulty:

  1

  weeks in the season:

  18

  pick accuracy:

  100

  predicted pick:

  148

  weeks left when called:

  0

  mock ordering score:

  91.43

  Think this is wrong?

• Mock Draft PicksTrey MooreNew Orleans SaintsMar 9, 2026

  Trey Moore to be picked at number 170

  “And then round five pick one seventy, I'm gonna go with, Texas linebacker Trey Moore.”

  Miss · 0Scored 0 on this pickthis mock ordered the draft 91.43 against a shuffle’s 50+41.43 skill
  How this was scored

  draft:

  2026

  naive:

  a shuffled mock scores 50

  skill:

  41.43

  player:

  Trey Moore

  season:

  2026

  zero at:

  undrafted

  outcome:

  went undrafted in 2026; later signed with MIA

  accuracy:

  0

  baseline:

  50

  actual pick:

  undrafted

  difficulty:

  1

  weeks in the season:

  18

  pick accuracy:

  0

  predicted pick:

  170

  weeks left when called:

  0

  mock ordering score:

  91.43

  Think this is wrong?

• Mock Draft PicksBud ClarkMar 9, 2026

  Bud Clark to be picked “probably second, third round players” (picks 65–96)

  “And then I'd highlight, of course, TCU safety, Bud Clark. Those guys could be had a little bit later in the draft, probably second, third round players.”

  Hit · 96Scored 95.76 on this pickthis mock ordered the draft 91.43 against a shuffle’s 50+41.43 skill
  How this was scored

  draft:

  2026

  naive:

  a shuffled mock scores 50

  skill:

  41.43

  player:

  Bud Clark

  season:

  2026

  zero at:

  32

  accuracy:

  95.76

  baseline:

  50

  actual pick:

  64

  difficulty:

  1

  weeks in the season:

  18

  pick accuracy:

  95.76

  predicted pick:

  probably second, third round players (picks 65–96)

  weeks left when called:

  0

  mock ordering score:

  91.43

  Think this is wrong?

• Mock Draft PicksKeionte ScottMar 9, 2026

  Keionte Scott to be picked “probably second, third round players” (picks 65–96)

  “Keontay Scott out of Miami. ... Those guys could be had a little bit later in the draft, probably second, third round players.”

  Close · 42Scored 42.04 on this pickthis mock ordered the draft 91.43 against a shuffle’s 50+41.43 skill
  How this was scored

  draft:

  2026

  naive:

  a shuffled mock scores 50

  skill:

  41.43

  player:

  Keionte Scott

  season:

  2026

  zero at:

  32

  accuracy:

  42.04

  baseline:

  50

  actual pick:

  116

  difficulty:

  1

  weeks in the season:

  18

  pick accuracy:

  42.04

  predicted pick:

  probably second, third round players (picks 65–96)

  weeks left when called:

  0

  mock ordering score:

  91.43

  Think this is wrong?

• Mock Draft PicksMalachi LawrenceMar 9, 2026

  Malachi Lawrence to be picked “top 100” (picks 1–100)

  “And I think Malachi Lawrence now is going, like, top 100.”

  Hit · 100Scored 100 on this pickthis mock ordered the draft 91.43 against a shuffle’s 50+41.43 skill
  How this was scored

  draft:

  2026

  naive:

  a shuffled mock scores 50

  skill:

  41.43

  player:

  Malachi Lawrence

  season:

  2026

  zero at:

  32

  accuracy:

  100

  baseline:

  50

  actual pick:

  23

  difficulty:

  1

  weeks in the season:

  18

  pick accuracy:

  100

  predicted pick:

  top 100 (picks 1–100)

  weeks left when called:

  0

  mock ordering score:

  91.43

  Think this is wrong?

• Trade and Signing CallsAlontae TaylorMar 9, 2026

  Alontae Taylor to move

  “Could also immediately step into the role of one, Allante Taylor, should he depart in free agency as we expect he will.”

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

  Think this is wrong?