Saints trade 2027 first rounder, move up to 3rd in final mock draft

The New Orleans Saints, as it stands, will head into the first night of the 2026 NFL Draft with the No. 8 overall pick. However, as the long-awaited first round approaches and the picks start to unfold, trades may emerge, leading to unexpected developments.

The Saints, a team rumored to be interested in several pass rushers projected to be drafted in the top ten of the first round, may be looking to trade up for an earlier pick. In Daniel Jeremiah's final mock draft for the NFL Network, the NFL draft analyst suggested that general manager Mickey Loomis and the Saints could trade up to the No. 3 spot, currently held by the Arizona Cardinals, in order to select Ohio State's Arvell Reese.

"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. So, they take it in this scenario. The Saints have made 25 draft trades since 2008. They traded up in all 25 instances."

The Saints should be plenty interested in a versatile player like Reese, who excelled as both a pass rusher and a linebacker in college. He is likely to transition to an edge defender at the professional level, and is projected to be considered alongside Texas Tech's David Bailey for the New York Jets' second overall pick. However, in this scenario, he is selected third overall.

Reese finished the 2025 season with eight total sacks and 23 pressures on just 104 pass-rushing snaps. He impressed scouts at the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis by running a 4.46-second 40-yard dash at 6-foot-4 and 241 pounds. The 20-year-old is ranked No. 1 on the big board in "The Beast" by Dane Brugler of The Athletic. While his talent and athleticism are clearly evident, if he ends up with the Saints, the focus will be on refining his technique and utilizing him effectively.