The New Orleans Saints just slid right out of the top 10 in the upcoming 2027 NFL Draft, but that didn’t stop them from hitting the defensive side of the ball hard with their very first pick, grabbing Clemson cornerback Ashton Hampton at No. 12 overall. Using the PFSN mock draft simulator, we took a deep dive into seven rounds of picks, operating on the assumption that the Saints will snag a veteran edge rusher like Tuli Tuipulotu or Uchenna Nwosu in free agency. But hey, in this league, you never truly know what’s coming, especially with coaching staff changes potentially on the horizon.
Round 1 Shockwave: A Defensive Star at Pick 12
Landing Ashton Hampton at the twelfth pick was a no-brainer when the board shook out. He was hands down the best available defender, even with Miami quarterback Darian Mensah, Florida running back Jadan Baugh, and Oregon tight end Jamari Johnson still out there. This dude has NFL size and speed, standing tall at 6-foot-2 and weighing 205 pounds. He’s a playmaker, too, with four interceptions and 23 passes defensed in 33 career games. Pro Football Focus even charted him with 11 forced incompletions this year, leading the entire nation! The Saints apparently had their eyes on Mansoor Delane in 2026, but let me tell you, Hampton is an excellent consolation prize. Plus, with Kool-Aid McKinstry entering a contract year next season, grabbing a talent like Hampton now feels incredibly smart.
Trenches and Tackles: Smart Moves for the Line
Things got a little tougher in Round 2, with some top-tier offensive linemen still on the board like Indiana left tackle Carter Smith and Ohio State right tackle Austin Siereveld, who has started all over the Buckeyes’ line except center. But the Saints chose to bolster their defensive line, bringing in Tavion Gadson from Kentucky at Pick 42. This guy’s story is awesome: he missed most of the 2024 season with a knee injury but bounced back huge, playing at a high level in 2025 and 2026. He was already one of Kentucky’s best last season before exploding with four tackles for loss, three sacks, and 13 quarterback pressures in just six games this year. That kind of production is impossible to ignore, especially with Nathan Shepherd, Davon Godchaux, and Colby Wooden all heading into free agency and Bryan Bresee coming back from his own season-ending knee injury into a contract year.
Then in Round 3, at Pick 73, the focus shifted to the offensive line with Melvin Siani from Texas. There simply wasn’t an edge rusher or running back I was comfortable taking there, especially with Texas A&M edge rusher Anto Saka not showing enough production to warrant a top-100 pick. Siani is your immediate upgrade at swing tackle over Asim Richards. This guy is versatile, having started full seasons at left tackle for Temple and right tackle at Wake Forest before transferring to Texas, where he’s been holding down the right tackle spot. With Taliese Fuaga reportedly regressing under Kellen Moore and his coaching staff, Siani could seriously develop into a replacement if that trend keeps up. Ideally, Fuaga recovers and plays great, giving the Saints a killer sixth man on game days in Siani.
A Big-Play Back You Won’t See Coming
Round 4, Pick 109, saw a few quarterbacks still hanging around like LaNorris Sellers, Jayden Maiava, and Brendan Sorsby. But the choice came down to two running backs: Georgia Tech’s Justice Haynes and Louisville’s Isaac Brown. And the pick? Isaac Brown. This guy is an easy comparison to De’Von Achane, a truly undersized, fleet-footed rusher at 5-foot-9 and 190 pounds. He’s currently averaging 7.5 yards per carry, and get this: he’s had a rush for at least 70 yards in each of his three college seasons. That’s a massive big-play element the Saints absolutely need!
This mock draft paints a picture of a team committed to strengthening its core, especially on defense, while adding a dynamic offensive weapon. With free agency still ahead, there’s a lot that could shift, but if these are the types of players they’re targeting, the 2027 class could reshape their roster. Keep an eye on those free agent moves, because they’ll set the stage for how these draft picks really shake out!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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