​We’re still waiting for the New Orleans Saints to regroup for training camp, which means it’s time to scan the latest mock drafts and spotlight potential names to watch in the 2027 NFL Draft class. For today’s pick, we turn to Paul M. Banks of Draft Wire, who projects the Saints will select Notre Dame cornerback Leonard Moore with the eighth overall pick. Most mock drafts have the Saints targeting a premier edge rusher, with Colin Simmons from Texas or Dylan Stewart from South Carolina favored to come off the board early. Yet by the Saints’ time on the clock, neither of those players remained available.
Banks explained the scenario this way: “Our first off-script pick, Saints’ primary need is edge rusher, but there is no one rated high enough on the big board to go here. So we see them going best player available.” In this early projection, cornerback is the best remaining option on the board, a position where value could trump a position of greater conventional need. Only two other corners appear among the top selections in this overly-early mock draft: Ellis Robinson IV from Georgia lands with the New York Giants at No. 11, and Zabien Brown from Alabama goes to the Cincinnati Bengals at No. 17. Notably, there isn’t a single edge rusher taken within the top 20 after Simmons and Stewart went in the top five, underscoring Banks’ suggestion that the Saints could pivot to the best talent available rather than force a need-based pick.
Moore has been connected to the Saints previously, though landing him would likely require a top-10 choice. While cornerback might not be the Saints’ explicit top priority for 2027, it remains a position of interest for the club. Kool-Aid McKinstry will enter a contract year in 2027 and could depart the Saints in much the same way as Alontae Taylor and Paulson Adebo did in prior seasons, making the corner position a potential area of focus in future drafts.
Moore’s college résumé is extensive. He earned unanimous All-American honors last season at Notre Dame and was a finalist for both the Jim Thorpe Award and the Bronko Nagurski Trophy. He also reached semifinal status for the Chuck Bednarik Award and the Lott IMPACT Trophy. On the field, he made a notable impact in Notre Dame’s matchup against USC, where he limited Trojans wide receiver Makai Lemon—who would later be selected by the Philadelphia Eagles in the first round—to just four receptions and 76 yards. Moore’s physical profile stands out at 6-foot-2 and 195 pounds, and his game tape reflects clean discipline (only five penalties across 1,368 career defensive snaps) along with refined ball skills (seven career interceptions and 18 passes defensed). In a Saints season that hopes to build on progress, Moore’s presence would offer a high-floor addition at a premium position moving forward. If the Saints’ ambitions translate into success this season, Moore may not even be in play for their next pick, as he could be long gone by the time their turn comes around in 2027.
A look at the current landscape reveals that the mock draft field is shifting, with edge rushers perhaps not flying off the board as early as expected and cornerbacks emerging as a viable alternative for the Saints. The Saints’ strategic decision will hinge on how the board develops between now and next spring, as well as how the team evaluates Moore’s fit within its defensive scheme and long-term plans. Whether the Saints opt to address edge pressure early or bide their time to secure a top-tier corner, this draft cycle will test the team’s ability to forecast needs, weigh positional value, and identify impact players who can help sustain a competitive window in the post-Drew Brees era.
This article originally appeared on Saints Wire: Will Saints pick high enough in 2027 to get Notre Dame’s Leonard Moore? for SEO purposes. It covers developments up to the Saints’ off-season activities and includes context about Moore’s collegiate achievements, the evolving draft board, and how cornerback depth could influence New Orleans’ selections in 2027. The scene in Metairie remains fluid as the coaching staff and front office monitor talent across the college landscape, including potential sleepers like Moore who could shape the Saints’ path toward sustained success.