Ross Jackson · Feb 26, 2026
Previewing the 2026 edge rusher combine class for the Saints, Jackson pegged Arvell Reese as a possible top-two pick, put Akeem Mesidore in the late first/early second round range, gave Romello Height a Day 2-to-fourth-round range, and predicted Derek Carr would unretire and be traded away from New Orleans for roughly fifth-round value.
“He's gonna lead off this list because he might be one of the first players off the board as early as the second pick in this draft.”
said on air, transcribed by us · Locked On Saints (podcast) · read the original →
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 PicksAkheem MesidorMiami DolphinsFeb 26, 2026
Akheem Mesidor to be picked “could sneak it to the bottom of the first round, could be there at the top of day two” (picks 1–32)
“This is a guy that could sneak it to the bottom of the first round, could be there at the top of day two as well.”
Miss · 0Scored 0a naive guess scored 50How this was scored
- draft:
- 2026
- naive:
- a shuffled mock scores 50
- player:
- Akheem Mesidor
- 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:
- could sneak it to the bottom of the first round, could be there at the top of day two (picks 1–32)
- weeks left when called:
- 0
- mock ordering score:
- only one pick — no order to score
- Mock Draft PicksRomello HeightFeb 26, 2026
Romello Height to be picked “second, third, fourth round” (picks 97–140)
“But, man, like, second, third, fourth round, wherever it is that he goes, could be a good investment.”
Miss · 31Scored 31.05a naive guess scored 50How this was scored
- draft:
- 2026
- naive:
- a shuffled mock scores 50
- player:
- Romello Height
- season:
- 2025
- zero at:
- 32
- accuracy:
- 31.05
- baseline:
- 50
- actual pick:
- 70
- difficulty:
- 1
- weeks in the season:
- 18
- pick accuracy:
- 31.05
- predicted pick:
- second, third, fourth round (picks 97–140)
- weeks left when called:
- 0
- mock ordering score:
- only one pick — no order to score
- Trade and Signing CallsDerek CarrFeb 26, 2026
Derek Carr to move
“There's no future for Derek Carr in New Orleans. He ain't gonna be a saint. And so you ship them off for what it is that you can get”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the season it describes has finished.
- Mock Draft PicksArvell ReeseFeb 26, 2026
Arvell Reese to be picked “as early as the second pick in this draft”
“So he's gonna lead off this list because he might be one of the first players off the board as early as the second pick in this draft.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the season it describes has finished.