The NFL Draft process is a marathon of evaluation, a relentless pursuit of talent that extends far beyond game tape and combine numbers. For the New Orleans Saints, that process is in full swing as the 2026 draft approaches, with the team's scouting department and front office casting a wide net to identify potential fits. This week, that net has ensnared a pair of prospects from the collegiate ranks, as the Saints have conducted pre-draft meetings with Cincinnati linebacker Jack Dingle and hosted Illinois guard Josh Gesky for a private workout.
These moves are standard operating procedure for any NFL team in April, but they offer a fascinating glimpse into the Saints' potential draft-day priorities and the specific player profiles that might be catching the eye of General Manager Mickey Loomis and Head Coach Kellen Moore. While a meeting or workout is far from a guarantee of selection, it signifies a level of interest that warrants a closer look. It's the first step in a deeper dive, a chance to move beyond the highlight reel and understand the person and player behind the helmet.
A Closer Look at Jack Dingle, Linebacker, Cincinnati
The first piece of news comes from the defensive side of the ball, where the Saints have reportedly met with Cincinnati Bearcats linebacker Jack Dingle. The linebacker position in New Orleans has been a point of strategic focus and occasional flux in recent years, a unit that has featured standout performances but has also faced challenges with depth and consistency against both the run and pass.
Dingle, whose collegiate career at Cincinnati has put him on the radar of several NFL teams, represents a potential mid-to-late round prospect who could add competition and developmental upside to the room. While specific details of his collegiate stats and measurables from the 2025 season are still being finalized by draft analysts, a player who draws a formal meeting with an NFL team typically possesses a combination of tangible athletic traits and intangible character that teams want to investigate further.
For the Saints, the interest in a linebacker like Dingle could signal a few things. It may reflect a desire to add youthful depth and special teams capability behind established starters. The modern NFL linebacker must be versatile, capable of shedding blocks to stop the run, dropping into coverage against athletic tight ends and running backs, and occasionally being deployed as a blitzer. The Saints' defensive scheme, under the direction of Coordinator Brandon Staley, demands smart, communicative, and physically tough players at the second level. A pre-draft meeting is the perfect forum to test a prospect's football IQ, understand his preparation process, and gauge how he might fit within that complex system.
Evaluating Dingle would involve assessing his diagnostic skills, his tackling efficiency, and most importantly, his coverage abilities. In a division featuring dynamic pass-catching backs and tight ends, a linebacker who can hold his own in space is invaluable. This meeting allows the Saints' staff to put Dingle on a board, walk through defensive concepts, and see how quickly he processes information. It's as much an interview as it is an evaluation.
Private Workout for Illinois Guard Josh Gesky
Perhaps even more telling is the second piece of reported activity: the Saints hosted Illinois Fighting Illini guard Josh Gesky for a private workout. The offensive line, particularly the interior, is perennially an area of intense scrutiny for the Saints. The team has long prided itself on building a formidable trench presence, and maintaining that standard requires constant investment and evaluation.
A private workout is a significant step up in intensity from a standard combine interview or a "Top 30" visit. It involves the team's offensive line coaches putting Gesky through a rigorous, personalized set of drills on their own turf. They can test his footwork, his hand placement, his power in confined spaces, and his technique in ways that the standardized combine drills cannot. They can see how he takes coaching in real-time--does he make an immediate adjustment, or does the correction need to be repeated?
Josh Gesky's profile as an Illinois guard suggests a player groomed in the physical Big Ten Conference, likely accustomed to a power-based running game and facing formidable defensive tackles week in and week out. For the Saints, who have sought to re-establish a dominant running game to balance their offensive attack, a mauler with good technique on the interior could be a key piece of the puzzle.
The interest in Gesky could be viewed through a lens of both immediate need and long-term planning. The guard position requires a unique blend of strength, agility, and intelligence. The player must be powerful enough to move defensive tackles in the run game, agile enough to pull and lead blocks on outside runs or screens, and smart enough to identify and communicate complex defensive fronts and blitz packages. A private workout allows the Saints to stress-test all of these attributes. They can simulate game-like scenarios, see how Gesky moves in space, and evaluate his core strength and anchor in pass protection drills.
Connecting the Dots to Saints' Team Needs
While it's crucial not to overinterpret pre-draft visits--teams often meet with hundreds of prospects--these two actions align logically with perceived needs on the Saints' roster. The team is perpetually in a mode of strategic roster construction, balancing the financial realities of the salary cap with the need to infuse young, cost-controlled talent.
The linebacker corps, while often effective, could benefit from an infusion of young legs and a player who can develop into a three-down role. Drafting a player like Dingle would be a classic Saints move: identifying a prospect with specific traits they covet and coaching him up within their system.
The offensive line, however, often feels like the engine of the entire operation. Protecting the quarterback and creating lanes for the running game is non-negotiable for success. Investing draft capital in the interior line, whether early or late, is a hallmark of stable franchises. Gesky's private workout indicates a serious level of interest. He isn't just a name on a list; he's a player the Saints felt was worth bringing in for a hands-on, intensive evaluation. That speaks volumes.
The Bigger Picture: Due Diligence in Action
For fans, news of draft visits and workouts is a tantalizing appetizer before the main course in late April. It sparks debate and allows for speculative mock drafts. For the Saints' front office, it is simply part of the exhaustive job of leaving no stone unturned. Meeting with Jack Dingle and working out Josh Gesky does not mean the Saints will draft either player. It means their names have surfaced through the scouting process as potential fits, and the organization is doing its homework.
This is the essence of draft preparation. It's about building a comprehensive board, understanding the depth of each position class, and being prepared for every possible scenario when the team is on the clock. A player met in early April could be a target in the fifth round, or he could be a name they circle as a priority undrafted free agent if he goes unselected. The intelligence gathered in these sessions is filed away, creating a mosaic of information that will guide one of the most important weekends of the NFL year.
As the draft draws nearer, the Saints will continue this process with dozens of other prospects. But the reported interest in a linebacker from Cincinnati and a guard from Illinois provides a concrete snapshot of the work happening behind the scenes at the Ochsner Sports Performance Center. It's a reminder that building a roster is a year-round endeavor, and the search for the next key contributor is always underway. For Jack Dingle and Josh Gesky, their interactions with the Saints represent a critical opportunity to make a lasting impression. For the Saints, it's another day of doing the necessary work to ensure that when their draft picks are announced, they are selections made with confidence and thorough understanding.