Week three of college football has already started reshaping the conversation around the 2026 draft, and the New Orleans Saints would be wise to keep these names on the radar. Some of the sport’s headline prospects were never in danger of slipping into obscurity.
This group is different. These are the under-the-radar risers who are turning strong starts into real draft momentum.
Kingston Lopa has been the loudest breakout so far. The six-foot-five, 210-pound Cal safety has picked off five passes in his first three games, and that kind of production is hard to ignore no matter where you start on the board. His movement skills, instincts, and ball skills have all shown up early, and he’s forcing his way into first-round conversation.
Reed Harris has made the jump from solid producer at Boston College to one of the most dangerous receivers in the country at Arizona State. Through week three, he sits atop the Big 12 with 347 receiving yards and five touchdowns.
At six-foot-five, Harris brings size, strong hands, and route-running that plays better than you’d expect for a receiver his frame. If this pace holds, he’s looking like a day-one or early day-two target.
Cam Cook has given West Virginia exactly the kind of spark that changes an offense. The five-foot-nine, 203-pound senior has powered the Mountaineers to a 3-0 start, piling up 317 rushing yards and three scores.
He wins with quick feet, elusiveness in space, and sharp vision. He doesn’t have first-round traits because of his strength and lack of home-run speed, but he does look like the kind of mid-round back the Saints could end up loving.
Clev Lubin is back in the spotlight after a quiet first two weeks. The Louisville pass rusher could have entered the draft last year and probably heard his name called on day two, but his return has paid off with a chance to build his stock even higher. His relentless motor, athleticism, and technique make him a disruptive force off the edge, and his 1.5 sacks and six pressures against SMU put him right back on the national stage.
Junior Sherrill rounds out the list as one of the most underrated players in the country. The Commodores receiver has posted 15 catches for 272 yards and two touchdowns, and his explosiveness after the catch, twitchiness, and superb stem IQ make him a tough cover. He still needs to expand his route tree in 2026, but the traits are there for a dynamic NFL receiver.
In Other News...
Saints Fans Will Notice One Big Superdome Change At The Home Opener
The Caesars Superdome is rolling out a fresh gameday experience for the Saints home opener, and the changes will be obvious long before kickoff. To mark 60 seasons of Saints football, the building is debuting new food and drink options aimed at giving fans more variety as they settle into another home schedule in New Orleans.
Along with a $6 value menu, the lineup includes Louisiana-inspired dishes such as a pork alligator burger and Tabasco wings, plus specialty cocktails throughout the stadium. Suite fans will also have a $60 commemorative dessert on the menu, part of a broader push from the culinary team to make the Superdome feel a little more celebratory as the season gets underway. [Read more 🡒]
Saints Fans Can Already See Kellen Moores Travis Etienne Problem
Travis Etiennes early role has already become a talking point for Saints fans watching Kellen Moore sort out the offense. Through the first two games, Etienne has been kept under 10 rushing attempts in each one, a usage pattern that stands out for a back who is supposed to be one of the highest-paid at his position. Instead of functioning like the lead runner many expected, he has been deployed more as a piece in the passing game while Alvin Kamara has gotten the heavier share of work on the ground.
For New Orleans, the concern is less about one quiet stretch than what it might signal about Moores priorities with the backfield. If Etienne is going to justify his contract and become the centerpiece many assumed he would be, the Saints need to see more than scattered touches and receiving snaps. For now, the mismatch between pay and role is hard to ignore, and it leaves a real question hanging over how Moore plans to balance the two backs going forward. [Read more 🡒]
Saints May Be Catching Raiders At A Much Worse Time
The Saints are preparing for a Raiders team that has already managed to open the season 2-0 without Brock Bowers, but the matchup in Week 3 could look different if Las Vegas gets its top pass-catching weapon back. ESPNs Dan Graziano reported that Bowers is more likely than not to play against New Orleans, which would give the Raiders offense a major lift after getting through the first two weeks without him.
His availability still is not locked in, though, and that leaves a little suspense around how dangerous this Raiders group will be by kickoff. If Bowers gets through practice without any issues, New Orleans may be staring at a much tougher version of a team that has already found ways to win early. [Read more 🡒]