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What Teams Could Trade Up in Front of the Saints First Round Pick
TL;DR
As the 2026 NFL Draft approaches, teams are rumored to be trading up into the top 7, potentially disrupting the New Orleans Saints' draft strategy. The focus is on acquiring valuable draft capital for next year's promising draft class.
Key points
- 2026 NFL Draft is approaching with trade rumors.
- Teams in the top-7 may trade down for 2027 draft capital.
- Arizona Cardinals are among teams that could trade up.
New Orleans SaintsArizona Cardinals
What Teams Could Trade Up in Front of the Saints First Round Pick
With around a week until the 2026 NFL Draft, rumors are flying around social media and the NFL World. The New Orleans Saints have been a part of some, but those are not the focus for today. Instead, we are going to look at the teams that have been rumored to be trading up into the top 7, which could really mess up the Saints' selections.
Before getting to those teams, let's talk about why teams would be trading up. The 2026 is a very interesting one in regard to potential trades. Per many rumors, teams in the top-7 want to trade down, which makes sense with questions surrounding many of the top prospects in the draft. Also, with some more valuable positions existing a bit deeper in the first round, those teams, such as the Arizona Cardinals, would want to get just more draft capital and still secure a player they like. The issue with the teams wanting to trade back is their idea of getting 2027 draft capital.
Next year's draft is set to be one of the best in a while. Because of that, it has created a scramble to get draft capital that season by hurting the short-term prospects of a team. So, teams looking to trade back are rumored to want 2027 draft capital, but the issue is that the teams trading up do not want to do that. Still, this is all a part of getting a deal done, and the negotiation process, so with that in mind, here are two teams that could mess up the Saints' draft plans by moving up in the top-7.
Kansas City Chiefs
Wow, who would think the Chiefs would ever trade up right before the Saints' selection? I never heard that story before.
The Chiefs are selecting 9th overall, which is a completely new outcome during the Patrick Mahomes era. Because of that, this is also the time they can strike and get a player they view as top-tier in this draft, and with the defensive line being an issue, that could be Rueben Bain Jr. or David Bailey. That would be horrible news for the Saints.
Dallas Cowboys
The other team that has been heavily rumored ot be trading up is the Dallas Cowboys, and similar to the Chiefs, it can spell bad news for the Saints. The defensive linemen have also been linked to the Cowboys. Sonny Styles, a linebacker who could be an excellent addition to the Saints, could be the real target for them. Dallas has a need at linebacker, and Styles has been heavily linked to the team.
The trade would likely be with the Cowboys' two first-round picks ot get into the top 7, so although it would be a jump, if the team has their guy, they are going to get him.
Q&A
Which teams are likely to trade up in front of the Saints in the 2026 NFL Draft?
Teams rumored to be trading up include those in the top-7, specifically the Arizona Cardinals, among others.
Why are teams interested in trading down during the 2026 NFL Draft?
Many teams want to trade down to acquire 2027 draft capital, as next year's draft is expected to be highly valuable.
What impact could trading up have on the Saints' draft picks?
Trading up by other teams could limit the Saints' options and disrupt their strategy for selecting top prospects.
