Updated Jan. 15, 2026, 4:32 p.m. CT

For a long time, it looked like the New Orleans Saints were in a great position to land one of the 2026 NFL Draft’s most talented players — then Tyler Shough took over at quarterback, they started winning games, and fell from second overall to eighth. They could still get a great prospect at No. 8, sure, but it doesn’t sound like Ohio State Buckeyes standout Arvell Reese will be available. He’s a unanimous top-three pick in the latest round of mock drafts, with most mocks having go off the board at second overall.

New Orleans would have to trade up to get the player Pro Football Focus argues is their perfect draft fit. With Mickey Loomis at the wheel that’s always a possibility. PFF college football analyst Max Chadwick spelled out why Reese is a perfect fit for Brandon Staley’s defense:

The Saints produced the 10th-worst team PFF pass-rushing grade in the NFL this year, and star linebacker Demario Davis is 37 years old.

Reese is an impressive downhill defender, as his eight sacks in 2025 tied for the fourth most among college football linebackers, and he logged an 86.5 PFF run-defense grade to boot. Reese could play either off-ball linebacker or on the ball as an edge defender for the Saints.

Reese would be more likely to rotate in as an outside linebacker on the edge with Chase Young, Carl Granderson, and Cameron Jordan (if he returns) than hang back off the ball with Davis. But the versatility he offers is rare. That it’s a valid point he could do that says a lot even if his best traits show up when he’s rushing against a left tackle. He could be a real difference-maker in New Orleans.

And we can’t rule out a trade up. Loomis has gotten away with bold swings and misses in the top 10 before, trading up from No. 17 to No. 6 (for defensive tackle Johnathan Sullivan, off the team in three years) and from No. 10 to No. 7 back in 2008 (for another defensive tackle, Sedrick Ellis, who lasted five years). When the Saints get fixated on a prospect, especially in the first round, Loomis will go get them. He traded up for Chris Olave, Marcus Davenport, Brandin Cooks, and Mark Ingram to varying degrees of success. Maybe he’ll start thinking about a trade up for Reese, too.

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What could it cost? We saw a similar deal play out in 2023 when the Houston Texans, confident that CJ Stroud was their quarterback, traded up from No. 12 to third overall to pick edge rusher Will Anderson. That cost Houston their second-round pick in 2023 as well as their first- and third-round picks the next year, but they got back a fourth rounder in 2023 from the Arizona Cardinals. If the Saints are that confident Shough is their guy it shouldn’t cost as much to go up to No. 2 from No. 8. The New York Jets sold out in hopes of getting a quarterback but there won’t be one available at second overall. Maybe they’re open to trading down to stockpile picks for next year. You just have to wonder if the Saints are in a position to cut a big deal like that. You can probably guess how Loomis feels about it.