The Saints have changed up their defensive scheme under Brandon Staley, which features a defensive line rotation with room for multiple top-100 picks.

Kenny Dillingham knows — essentially, guarantees — that the New Orleans Saints drafted a competitor Thursday night in the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft.

Until Saturday, every other NFL team had selected an Auburn player in the draft since the last time that New Orleans had. After the Saints chose defensive lineman Frank Warren from Auburn in the third round of the 1981 draft, New Orleans did not return to the Plains for a player until picking Wright.