2026 NFL Draftmas Eve
Kaden Arkeder • April 23, 2026
It’s the night before the draft, and you’re scrolling on X to see what all the NFL insiders and draft analysts have to say about your team. Trying to find any clues about who is going where and what the latest rumor is that could be the biggest surprise of Thursday night. The NFL Draft is one of the few times during the year when every fan has some level of hope and optimism in their team. The draft is a three-day event where it can make or break a franchise to where you can be set up for a Super Bowl contention or be stuck in the doldrums.
This year, Saints fans get to have some hope and optimism after how well the 2025 NFL Draft went. Kelvin Banks and Tyler Shough headline their draft class, which showed great promise for the Saints moving forward. Now it is on Mickey Loomis, Jeff Ireland, and company to keep the momentum going and have back-to-back successful drafts. Something they haven’t been able to really do in almost ten years now. But pressure isn’t new to Mickey Loomis, the man is not fazed by the likes of you or me posting online how poor of a job he’s done. No, the man simply chews his gum into a microphone defiantly with the confidence knowing that when his back is against the wall, he can capture lightning in a bottle. Mickey did it for the 06’ draft as well as the 17’ draft. The 2025 draft doesn’t appear to be quite like those, however, getting a starting Quarterback in the second round might help make a case, but that’s beside the point. The Saints don’t need to shoot for the moon with the 2026 NFL Draft, they aren’t one player away, which Mickey confirmed today in his annual pre-draft interview. All the Saints have to do is draft good football players and not get cute. Which I know is putting it way too simply, and is easier said than done. But I don’t want the Saints to get trigger-happy and make a costly trade that backfires on them à la Trevor Penning or Marcus Davenport. If a trade opportunity comes along that they deem is reasonable, then by all means, I hope they take advantage, but just make sure you’re not the ones being taken advantage of. The Saints might have already done the hardest part by finding a QB, so now they can do the fun part of the roster building.
I’ll admit there is some nervousness as a Saints fan about the draft and rightfully so, but as I type this out, the Saints are in a spot where they can’t really go wrong with their first pick in the draft. All the players being mocked to them can and should help the team in a major way as a rookie. They could go with a dynamic wide receiver like Jordyn Tyson or Carnell Tate, a do-it-all safety like Caleb Downs, a productive edge rusher like Ruben Bain, or maybe even trade up for a cyborg-like linebacker in Arvell Reese. The Saints have plenty of options, and all of them should be quality options. So now the question is, who is going to be the Saints fans’ present Thursday evening? We don’t have to wait much longer to find out. Merry Draftmas, everyone.
A quick share helps us a lot!
What the Derik Queen + Zion Williamson pairing says about the confused methodology of the Pelicans front office.
TE
Vance Bolyard- Duke
Vance Bolyard fits Tulane as a 6’5”, 240-pound prototypical tight end with elite blocking pedigree, mismatch athleticism in the passing game, and untapped receiving upside who immediately shores up a depleted TE room while adding special teams depth and physicality to the run game.
He’s a rising redshirt junior transfer from Duke (ACC) who committed in January 2026, via the portal. A three-star high school recruit (No. 23 TE nationally per ESPN) out of Northern Guilford HS in Greensboro, NC, he has multiple years of eligibility remaining.
Athletic Profile and Scheme Fit: Tulane’s offense (under head coach Will Hall and tight ends coach Tyler Spotts-Orgeron) relies on tight ends who excel in-line as blockers to support the run game, while providing mismatch opportunities in the pass game, especially in the red zone and on intermediate routes. Bolyard is a perfect scheme match:
• Size and blocking prowess: At 6’5”/240, he’s a “high-level blocker” who isn’t afraid to mess someone up in the run game. His frame and physicality make him an ideal in-line end who can dominate at the point of attack.
• Mismatch athleticism: Bolyard describes himself as a “mismatch” weapon, “If you get a linebacker on me, I’m too fast, and if you get a safety or a corner on me, I can bully them.” Scouts note flashes as a pass catcher on tape, giving him upside as a move TE or flexed option (Y-TE).
• Versatility and intangibles: Multi-sport HS background (basketball and lacrosse) plus proven special teams contributor at Duke (valuable member in 2025) add immediate starter potential and football IQ. Tulane values TEs who can contribute across phases, and his frame/speed combo fits perfectly into their explosive concepts. #RollWave Make sure to follow Patrick Harkness on X