Saints GM Mickey Loomis shares what it must take to trade down, not up

Yahoo Sports3h ago42 min readOriginal source →

TL;DR

Saints GM Mickey Loomis discusses the conditions necessary for the team to trade down in the upcoming draft, emphasizing the importance of acquiring high-graded players. With the Saints holding the No. 8 pick in 2026, opportunities for trading down are emerging.

Key points

Mickey Loomis discusses trading down in the draft
Saints hold the No. 8 pick in 2026
Several teams are rumored to want to trade up
Acquiring high-graded players is a priority
2027 draft has strong talent at the top

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New Orleans Saints

Saints GM Mickey Loomis shares what it must take to trade down, not up

Mickey Loomis, in his time with the New Orleans Saints, has been known as the trade-up maestro; his primary focus is landing the players he and his staff have a high grade on, rather than trading down and getting someone with a lesser grade. While this has led to some very poor outcomes, it has also brought some great players to New Orleans that may not have been available otherwise, and ultimately, it has worked out to be roughly a net-neutral.

2026 provides an innate opportunity to trade down, as the Saints sit at pick No. 8, and a few teams have been rumored to want to select higher if the price is right. Additionally, 2027 has some great talent at the top, so getting an extra pick there, if at all possible, would be a positive.

Loomis made clear recently what the scenario would need to look like for a trade down to occur, and it seems pretty straightforward for a draft philosophy.

Odds are, a Godfather-type offer is not going to be on the table for someone to trade up for pick No. 8 in this class unless we see a monumental drop from one of the top five prospects. This class plays right into the hands of someone who wants to trade up, unfortunately, meaning Loomis could be in the market to try and go get Arvell Reese, David Bailey, or Sonny Styles.

Ultimately, as always, it all comes down to how the dice land on the first five picks or so, and then who is available by pick No. 8. If they feel they can get away with a trade down, they should, as filling more needs is always a priority. That said, if the Arizona Cardinals are so desperate to move down that they accept a relatively neutral offer, that would not be the worst-case scenario either.

NEW YORK - APRIL 29: Former USC running back Reggie Bush with his family after Bush was selected second overall by the New Orleans Saints in the 2006 NFL Draft at Radio City Music Hall on April 29, 2006 in New York City. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)