April 18, 2026, 4:33 p.m. CT
The New Orleans Saints enter the 2026 NFL Draft with questions looming about which way they’ll decide to go. Longtime general manager Mickey Loomis has a history of trading up, not down, but this could be the year that trend is broken. He just might get an offer that’s too good to refuse. At the same time, the Saints may want to stay put in such a thin draft class.
With pick No. 8, the Saints could select a valued prospect like Ohio State’s Carnell Tate or elite pass rushers, Miami’s Rueben Bain Jr., or Texas Tech’s David Bailey. But there’s no guarantee the front office’s choice will be available when the draft begins. If so, trading back while gaining future assets would be a wise move.
Scenario 1: Saints trade back to Cowboys’ pick at No. 12
Saints get: Pick Nos. 12, 92, and a 2027 third-round pick
Cowboys get: Pick Nos. 8, 132, 172
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The Dallas Cowboys are rumored to want a top-ten pick. It’s unclear who they’d target or if that player would be available at No. 8, but they have assets to make a deal. In this scenario, the Saints move back four spots, gain pick No. 92 and a third-rounder next year, and send two Day 2 picks to balance trade value. At No. 12, New Orleans could still target Jordyn Tyson or Makai Lemon as first-round receivers.
Scenario 2: Saints trade back to Jets’ pick at No. 16
Saints get: Pick Nos. 16, 44, and a 2027 fourth-round pick
Jets get: Pick No. 8
The Jets, holders of pick No. 2, are rumored to be aiming for a second top-ten pick, likely for an immediate-impact receiver or a cornerback to fill the void that the Sauce Gardner trade left in the team’s secondary. It would be interesting to see if the Saints are willing to move all the way back to No. 16, given the fact that there’s a feeling around the league that there are only 13 to 15 players in this class with a first-round grade. If the Saints trade to No. 16, they may trade again if no first-round grade players remain, but this could be a good spot to target someone like Penn State guard Vega Ioane.
Scenario 3: Saints trade back to Eagles’ pick at No. 23
Saints get: Pick Nos. 23, 54, and a 2027 second-round pick
Eagles get: Pick Nos. 8
Eagles GM Howie Roseman is known for aggressive draft trades. He previously traded several picks to move from No. 8 to No. 2 in 2016. He also executed a trade several years ago on Day 3 of the draft to acquire running back D’Andre Swift. Persistent questions about Philadelphia’s offensive line make a trade to No. 8 for a top lineman plausible, depending on the way the early picks take shape. Georgia’s Monroe Freeling or Utah’s Spencer Fano would make sense. The Saints could benefit from multiple top-100 picks, gaining immediate impact players instead of risking their future on one top-10 choice.