2026 NFL Draft bold predictions: Who, and where, will the Saints pick?

Draft day is finally here, but what do the New Orleans Saints have in the works? The Saints are set up to be major players in the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft, whether they stay put at No. 8 overall, trade up in a bold move, or even look to move down and acquire more picks -- something that hasn't happened in almost two decades. To try and set expectations for Thursday night (and pick up the opportunity for some "I told you so's" after the fact), we gathered bold predictions from each of our staff writers.

These bold predictions were collected anonymously, but we still found some agreements:

Saints trade up for Ohio State star Arvell Reese

This is entirely dependent on the New York Jets selecting David Bailey at No. 2, but they appear to be trending that way over the past few weeks. The Arizona Cardinals are also rumored to be interested in trading back from No. 3 and who better to move up than the Saints? Reese is a project as a pass rusher, but there's no denying the talent and potential that he'll bring to an NFL franchise; New Orleans lands its 20-year-old defensive cornerstone for years to come. -- Arye Pulli

My bold prediction for Thursday night is that Ohio State linebacker Arvell Reese slips to No. 5, opening the door for a move from Mickey Loomis and the Saints’ front office. After further discussions, New Orleans packages a deal, likely including their No. 73 pick, to trade up with the New York Giants and secure the selection. In doing so, the Saints land a top-three talent in this draft and a versatile defensive chess piece perfectly suited for Brandon Staley’s scheme. -- Luke Loffredo

Saints trade down for the first time in 19 years

has reportedly shown great interest in trading into the top ten. They have the ammunition to do so. New Orleans is attempting to build off a good 2025 draft, but still has some significant needs to address. This trade would cause the Saints to run the risk of losing out on one of the top three edge rushers. But, it also would give them four picks in the top 75 selections and a chance to address pass rusher, wide receiver, and cornerback. In 23 years as the general manager of the Saints, Mickey Loomis has never traded back in the first round. Perhsps that changes with Randy Mueller and Thomas Dimitroff, along with Jeff Ireland and of course Kellen Moore, involved in the decision process. --