The Super Bowl is in the books, and with the confetti swept up and the Lombardi Trophy handed out, the NFL offseason officially begins. That means it’s draft season - and we now have the updated first-round order for the 2026 NFL Draft.
Here’s how the board currently stacks up:
- Las Vegas Raiders
- New York Jets
- Arizona Cardinals
- Tennessee Titans
- New York Giants
- Cleveland Browns
- Washington Commanders
- New Orleans Saints
- Kansas City Chiefs
- Cincinnati Bengals
- Miami Dolphins
- Dallas Cowboys
- Los Angeles Rams (via Atlanta Falcons)
- Baltimore Ravens
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- New York Jets (via Indianapolis Colts)
- Detroit Lions
- Minnesota Vikings
- Carolina Panthers
- Dallas Cowboys (via Green Bay Packers)
- Pittsburgh Steelers
- Los Angeles Chargers
- Philadelphia Eagles
- Cleveland Browns (via Jacksonville Jaguars)
- Chicago Bears
- Buffalo Bills
- San Francisco 49ers
- Houston Texans
- Los Angeles Rams
- Denver Broncos
- New England Patriots
- Seattle Seahawks
What the Saints Could Do at No. 8
The New Orleans Saints are sitting in a prime spot at No. 8 overall, and the mission this offseason is clear: inject life into an offense that struggled to find its rhythm. With the official cap numbers now out and some financial breathing room available, New Orleans has the flexibility to be aggressive in free agency - but when it comes to the draft, wide receiver might be the most logical and impactful target.
Here’s why: This class is loaded at the top with elite WR talent, and there’s near-certainty that at least one of the top four pass-catchers will still be on the board when the Saints are on the clock. That’s a golden opportunity for a team that needs a playmaker on the perimeter.
Names like Carnell Tate, Makai Lemon, and Jordyn Tyson have dominated the early draft buzz - and for good reason. Each brings a different flavor to the table, from route-running precision to explosive after-the-catch ability. But there’s another name quickly rising into that top-tier conversation: Denzel Boston.
Boston, out of Washington, is the kind of receiver who can change a quarterback’s life. At 6-foot-4, he’s a nightmare in contested-catch situations - though calling them “contested” might be generous to the defenders.
When the ball goes up, Boston doesn’t just make plays - he takes ownership of the moment. He’s the type of guy who turns 50/50 balls into 80/20s.
But don’t mistake him for a one-trick, jump-ball specialist. That’s not his game.
Boston has shown he can win in the short and intermediate areas with crisp route-running, and he’s got enough juice to stack defenders and win deep. For a guy his size, that’s not just rare - it’s downright dangerous.
Now, is he the most polished route technician in the class? No.
And he’s not the fastest straight-line burner either. But what makes Boston intriguing is that he’s already solid in those areas - and he’s only scratching the surface.
His ceiling is high, and his floor is higher than people might think.
For the Saints, who need a reliable weapon to stretch the field and command attention, Boston could be a perfect fit. Whether they go with him or one of the other top receivers, the No. 8 pick gives them a chance to reshape their offensive identity - and that could be the spark this team needs heading into 2026.