Saints Shock NFL: Trade 2027 First-Rounder, Jump to No. 3 in Final Mock Draft
NEW ORLEANS — In a move that should surprise absolutely no one who has followed the franchise over the past two decades, the New Orleans Saints are projected to trade up from the No. 8 overall pick to the No. 3 spot in the final mock draft from NFL Network’s Daniel Jeremiah, sending a 2027 first-round pick to the Arizona Cardinals in the process .
The blockbuster deal, which Jeremiah unveiled in his final mock draft published Wednesday, would see the Saints surrender their 2027 first-round selection along with their first- and third-round picks this year — Nos. 8 and 73 — to move up five spots and secure Ohio State linebacker/edge rusher Arvell Reese .
For a franchise that has made 25 draft trades since 2008 and traded up in all 25 instances, the projection fits a well-worn pattern . General manager Mickey Loomis has never met a trade-up opportunity he didn’t like, and this year’s quarterback-light draft class has created a unique market dynamic that could benefit the Saints’ aggressive front office.
The Target: Arvell Reese, Ohio State’s Defensive Weapon
The prize in this projected trade is Reese, a 6-foot-4, 241-pound defender who earned All-American honors playing as a “joker” in Ohio State defensive coordinator Matt Patricia’s scheme last season . Reese was named the Big Ten Butkus-Fitzgerald Linebacker of the Year after finishing the 2025 campaign with eight sacks and 23 pressures on just 104 pass-rushing snaps .
His athletic profile is what has evaluators salivating. Reese ran a 4.46-second 40-yard dash at the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis — exceptional speed for a player his size — and is ranked No. 1 on Dane Brugler’s “The Beast” big board for The Athletic . At just 20 years old, he is viewed as a player with immense untapped potential once his technique is refined at the professional level.
Jeremiah drew a direct comparison to a player new Saints defensive coordinator Brandon Staley knows well. “Defensive coordinator Brandon Staley might be reminded of a player he’s coached at multiple spots in his career, 2016 first-round pick Leonard Floyd,” Jeremiah wrote .
The Floyd comparison is instructive. At 6-foot-6, 244 pounds, Floyd was a versatile defender who could rush from the edge or drop into coverage — exactly the kind of chess piece Staley has historically coveted in his defensive schemes.
Why the Cardinals Bite
From Arizona’s perspective, the logic is sound. The Cardinals hold the No. 3 pick and have been widely projected to select Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love if they stay put . But Love, while an explosive talent, plays a position that has been increasingly devalued in the modern NFL.
“If the Cardinals stay put at No. 3, I think Jeremiyah Love is the pick,” Jeremiah wrote. “If they are offered a 2027 first-round pick to trade down, that’s going to be a tough deal for them to pass on” .
The Cardinals, who are still in the early stages of a rebuild under general manager Monti Ossenfort, would add an extra first-round pick for the 2027 draft — widely expected to be a deeper class at premium positions — while only sliding back five spots. In Jeremiah’s mock, Arizona uses its new pick at No. 8 to select Oregon offensive lineman Micah Mauigoa, addressing a long-term need at right tackle .
For the Saints, the calculus is different. New Orleans believes its competitive window is still open with quarterback Tyler Shough entering his second season as the starter. A 2027 first-round pick is a distant asset; Arvell Reese is a player who can help win games in 2026.
The Loomis Philosophy: Never Trade Down
The projected trade is entirely consistent with Loomis’ two-decade reign as the Saints’ general manager. Since taking over personnel decisions, Loomis has traded up 27 times and never traded down in the first round .
That philosophy has produced mixed results. The Saints landed Alvin Kamara, Mark Ingram II, and Chris Olave through aggressive trade-ups. But they also surrendered significant capital for Marcus Davenport (who is no longer with the team), Zach Baun (who emerged only after leaving New Orleans), and Adam Trautman .
Assistant general manager Jeff Ireland’s history also points toward an aggressive move. Ireland was with the Dallas Cowboys when they selected DeMarcus Ware with the No. 11 overall pick in 2005 — a pick that required moving up from No. 20 . Ware became a Hall of Famer and one of the most prolific pass rushers of his generation.
The Saints are betting that Reese can be that kind of transformative defender.
How Reese Fits Staley’s Defense
The schematic fit is what makes this particular trade-up scenario so intriguing. Staley, who was hired as defensive coordinator this offseason after serving as the San Francisco 49ers’ assistant head coach, has historically favored length and versatility in his edge defenders.
Reese’s ability to play both as a traditional hand-in-the-ground defensive end and as a stand-up outside linebacker gives Staley flexibility in his sub-packages. The Saints already have Chase Young and Carl Granderson at defensive end, but Young is playing on a one-year deal and Granderson is entering his age-30 season.
Adding Reese would give New Orleans a long-term building block at a premium position while allowing Staley to deploy more exotic fronts. In Ohio State’s scheme, Reese frequently aligned over tight ends and slot receivers, showing the kind of coverage ability that sets him apart from most edge rushers in this class .
What This Means for the Rest of the Saints’ Draft
If the Saints execute this trade as Jeremiah projects, they would be left with minimal draft capital for the remainder of the weekend. Surrendering the No. 8 and No. 73 picks — along with the 2027 first-rounder — would leave New Orleans with selections in the second round (No. 42), fourth round (Nos. 132 and 136), fifth round (Nos. 150 and 172), and sixth round (No. 190) .
That scarcity would put significant pressure on Loomis and his scouting staff to find value in the middle rounds. The Saints have historically done well in that range — Kamara was a third-round pick, while players like Carl Granderson and Paulson Adebo were found on Day 3 — but the margin for error would be razor-thin.
Local media has projected the Saints could target Louisville wide receiver Chris Bell in the second round and Kansas State interior lineman Sam Hecht in the third — though the third-round pick would be gone in this trade scenario .
The Bigger Picture: A Win-Now Move
For all the discussion about draft capital and prospect evaluations, the underlying message of this projected trade is clear: the Saints believe they can compete in 2026.
That faith is rooted in two major offseason acquisitions. In March, New Orleans signed former Jacksonville Jaguars running back Travis Etienne to a four-year, $52 million contract, bringing the Louisiana native home to form a dynamic backfield tandem with Alvin Kamara . The Saints also invested heavily in the offensive line, signing former Buffalo Bills guard David Edwards to a four-year deal with $45 million guaranteed .
The addition of Reese would address the defensive side of the ball, giving Staley a young, explosive pass rusher to pair with Young. In theory, the Saints would enter the 2026 season with upgrades at running back, offensive line, and edge rusher — three of the most important positions on the field.
Whether that translates into a playoff berth in a competitive NFC South remains to be seen. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have won the division three of the past five years, and the Atlanta Falcons have invested heavily in their roster under head coach Raheem Morris.
But for a franchise that has not won a playoff game since the 2020 season, the patience of ownership — and the fan base — may be wearing thin. Trading future assets for immediate impact is the move of a team feeling pressure to win now.
The Verdict: Classic Saints
As the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft begins Thursday night in Pittsburgh, all eyes will be on the New Orleans Saints’ war room. If history is any guide, Loomis will not be content to sit at No. 8 and let the board come to him.
The question is not whether the Saints will trade up, but how far. Jeremiah’s projection of a move to No. 3 for Arvell Reese is aggressive, even by Loomis’ standards. But it fits the profile: a premium position, a unique athlete, and a chance to land a player who could define the defense for the next decade.
For the Arizona Cardinals, the offer of a future first-round pick may be too tempting to pass up. For the Saints, the chance to add a player compared to DeMarcus Ware and Leonard Floyd may be worth any price.
As Jeremiah noted, the Saints have traded up in every single draft trade they have made since 2008. There is no reason to believe that streak will end Thursday night. The only mystery is how high they will go — and who they will take when they get there.
