Story perspectives

Saints pick OT Jeremiah Wright, also select safety Styles Jr.

4/26/2026

Summary

Saints Draft Jeremiah

The New Orleans Saints selected Jeremiah Wright with the 132nd overall pick on April 25, 2026.
The Saints obtained that pick from a 2025 trade with the Seattle Seahawks that placed it at the end of the round.
Wright will add depth to the Saints’ offensive line.
The trade also yielded a pick the Saints used to draft safety Lorenzo Styles Jr. at No. 172 overall.

Summary

Wright Senior Bowl

Wright earned a 2026 Reese’s Senior Bowl invitation after two seasons as Auburn’s starting right guard.
Saints scouts praised his power but flagged hand placement and foot quickness as concerns.
At the 2026 Combine he measured 6-5 1/8 and 331 lb while skipping the 40-yard dash, vertical, broad-jump and bench-press.
He moved to offensive guard in 2022, started in the SEC, and logged 434 and 449 pass-block snaps, allowing nine sacks.

Summary

Saints Draft

The Saints front office pursued an offense-centric draft, selecting Jordyn Tyson (No. 8), Oscar Delp (No. 73) and Jeremiah Wright (No. 132), the latter obtained via compensation after trading Rashid Shaheed to Seattle.
They also drafted Georgia nose tackle Christen Miller in the second round, showing a balanced yet still offense-leaning roster approach.
Coaches said the new linemen will fortify quarterback Tyler Shough’s pocket, with Wright projected to replace veteran Cesar Ruiz.

Summary

Wright Drafted

Draft analysis gave Jeremiah Wright a B-grade and called him a solid value pick in the fourth round.
Analysts described Wright as a big, powerful interior lineman with upside at guard.
Analysts said he can overwhelm defenders and create run-game movement, but critics warned his limited athleticism could cause pass-protection problems.
The outlet concluded his size, strength and developmental traits make him worth developing for the Saints.

History

Historical Context

Seattle’s 1997 draft, the first under owner Paul Allen, saw the Seahawks acquire the sixth-overall pick and select Hall-of-Fame tackle Walter Jones, who alongside cornerback Shawn Springs helped lift the team from a 7-9 record in 1996 to an 8-8 finish in 1997. The franchise’s long-standing practice of trading for high-value picks dates back to its 1976 NFL entry.

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Saints Draft Jeremiah

The New Orleans Saints selected Jeremiah Wright with the 132nd overall pick on April 25, 2026.
The Saints obtained that pick from a 2025 trade with the Seattle Seahawks that placed it at the end of the round.
Wright will add depth to the Saints’ offensive line.
The trade also yielded a pick the Saints used to draft safety Lorenzo Styles Jr. at No. 172 overall.

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