The New Orleans Saints are staring at a messy bye week, but in the world of mock drafts there’s always a reset button. Using Pro Football Focus’s 2027 NFL Draft simulator, one projection has the Saints piecing together a seven-round haul while they sit buried in a last-place tie with the Buccaneers and two games back of the Panthers in the loss column.
The mock opens with Stewart, whose explosive burst off the line is the kind of trait that makes evaluators sit up straight. Pro Football Focus highlighted the way he explodes into his rush, forcing tackles to retreat immediately and making life miserable for anyone trying to meet him wide.
Daire Carragher wrote: “He gets off the snap in blistering fashion, putting offensive tackles under immediate pressure to gain enough depth to protect their outside,” and added that Stewart’s bend is “truly freakish” for a 6-foot-5 edge rusher. Carragher also noted how rare it is for a player his size to stay balanced and fast while turning the corner so tightly.
The knocks are there too: Stewart still leans heavily on physical gifts, and he can be better against the run. His latest big moment was the fourth-quarter forced fumble that helped the Gamecocks knock off Tennessee.
The next name in this Saints haul is Washington, who would qualify as a major value pick. The source says he’s currently projected as a first-rounder, possibly even in the middle of the opening round, which makes him look like a steal in this scenario.
At 330 pounds, he brings the kind of anchor teams want in the middle. NFL Draft Buzz described how he can reset the line against single blocks, split doubles with leverage and hold the point.
The same evaluation also pointed out the concern: the pass rush is still mostly projection. Washington has only two sacks, missed eight tackles, and can wear down when plays flow to the perimeter.
Even so, the scouting report frames him as a scheme-versatile nose tackle or heavy three-technique with a first-round profile.
Alexander brings a different kind of appeal. Sports Illustrated described him as a player on the rise, and Ole Miss head coach Pete Golding was blunt about what makes him stand out.
“I think he’s an elite player,” Golding said. He compared Alexander’s style to Jameson Williams from Alabama, praising his top-end speed and acceleration.
Golding also said, “When he sticks his foot in the ground, he can go score. I think more guys are going to know where (number) one is.
And I think that’s going to cause some people problems for box counts that’s going to open up some other things in the run game. He’s a really good player.”
ESPN analyst Jordan Reid placed Alexander at No. 36 overall.
Up front, Lauck offers a profile built on size and movement. Pro Football Network called the 6-foot-5, 314-pound lineman a player with early-round potential, citing his explosive athleticism, lower-body power and core strength.
PFN’s report also praised how he can fire off the ball, work downhill in the run game and use his power to finish blocks into the turf. In pass protection, the report credited him with patience, discipline and a varied hand game, while also noting he’s still learning to handle more advanced stunts.
The concerns are technical: he can get too tall late in reps and lacks the hip flexibility to easily recover on an island.
Peal is another boundary defender with traits that fit the NFL mold. Draftcountdown.com pointed to his size and length as exactly what teams want from a corner, with Brian Bosarge writing that at a legitimate 6’1″ and 200 pounds, he has the frame to disrupt routes in press coverage and challenge throws at the catch point.
Bosarge also tied Peal’s movement skills to his high school background as a running back, saying he flips his hips smoothly, has excellent straight-line burst and can run with vertical routes down the sideline. The report also credits him with physical tackling, a trait that only helps his case at the next level.
The final defensive piece in the simulated draft is Little, a safety whose physical style stands out immediately. NFL Draft Buzz described him as a rangy, hard-hitting defender with real ball production, pointing to four interceptions and two forced fumbles at Florida State, where he was the defensive MVP before transferring to Ohio State for 2026.
The evaluation labels him a versatile safety whose range and takeaway ability are the main selling points, while also acknowledging that his starting experience is still limited. The projection is a developmental starter at free safety or nickel, with the upside to become a solid NFL starter and the floor of a rotational special-teams presence.
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