Free agent moves, or free agent inaction, can foreshadow NFL draft choices. That very much seems the case with the New Orleans Saints’ offseason so far this year.
The Saints have opted not to add in the way of edge rush and wide receiver this offseason, but there have been subtractions. New Orleans has seen veteran defensive tackle Cameron Jordan depart in free agency barring a surprising return to the team. Now, the Saints’ first round draft choice seems straightforward: Edge rush or wide receiver.
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ESPN insider Field Yates has the Saints going for a defensive end with the pick. He shared why Miami Hurricanes edge rusher Reuben Bain could be the choice.
“Defensive end Cameron Jordan could be out of New Orleans for the first time in his 15-year career, as he’s still a free agent despite 10.5 sacks in 2025. Regardless of whether Jordan returns, the Saints need to be mindful of adding youth to their pass-rush group.
Bain has hands of destruction that allow him to be a forceful rusher and tenacious run defender. Some evaluators are questioning whether he has the length (30â…ž-inch arms) to win as frequently at the NFL level, but he’s a well-rounded player who had 18.5 tackles for loss and 71 pressures in 2025. Per ESPN Research, no edge rusher over the past two decades has been drafted in the first round with sub-31-inch arms.”
Indiana Hoosiers quarterback Fernando Mendoza (15) passes the ball under pressure by Miami Hurricanes defensive lineman Rueben Bain Jr. (4) in the third quarter. Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images
Bain challenges a few trends should he be the selection here. Yates mentions that Bain is a pick here for his on-field production rather than his measurables. Perhaps that is not a bad thing.
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Saints 2025 NFL draft pick Kelvin Banks Jr. drew caution because of shorter arms. Some projected Banks as a guard rather than a tackle because of the short wingspan. We saw how that played out in his rookie season as Banks looked to secure the left tackle spot for the foreseeable future. Production has a way a predicting future success.
Like Banks, Bain was a standout in his final season of college football. The 18.5 tackles for loss carried over into the College Football Playoff where Bain wreaked havoc on the Ohio State and Indiana offensive line.
Some view wide receiver as the foregone conclusion for the Saints with the No. 8 pick. They may well be right. That said, we should not count out an impact edge rusher like Bain if he’s available for New Orleans with their first pick.