A potential trade-up could include 2027 picks, but that could be risky.
The 2026 NFL Draft is nearly here, and even though there is excitement, the looming 2027 Draft is overshadowing this year a bit. If you do not know, the 2027 draft class is considered one of the best in a long time, and although that seems to be said every year, 2027 is different. Teams around the NFL have already begun their preparations. The New York Jets made major trades at the NFL deadline, stocking up on 2027 draft capital, and the Jacksonville Jaguars, in free agency, allowed their top players to leave without finding replacements, so they can get a good number of comp picks.
There is palpable hype for the 2027 NFL Draft, and for the New Orleans Saints, next year's draft class could have major ramifications on potential decisions this season.
GM Mickey Loomis and major draft trades used to go hand in hand, but in recent years, Loomis has slowed down on those moves. This has been a really good thing for the Saints' roster, and if they did make a trade, it would be much smaller than one that would not hurt the team in a major way if it failed.
The Saints should have a careful mindset again in 2026, especially with next year's draft class in mind. There is really no reason to go all out and trade a day 1 or 2 pick from next year to get a player this year. Yes, the Saints still have a good number of needs on their roster, but no team can really fix everything in one offseason. It will be better for the longevity of this roster to try to fill as many glaring issues as possible without giving up those expensive picks.
Still, that does not mean a trade can't happen. Due to teams' value next year's draft extremely high, the value of a 2027 4th-round pick could be much higher than it usually is, and if the Saints want to use that to trade up, they should do it. Giving up any future draft capital is risky, but depending on how the draft goes, the Saints may have some tradeable assets on the roster that can possibly get back a 4th or a couple of 5ths. Keeping that future 4th-round pick would be nice, but if it's the difference in a deal to get a new WR2 or EDGE across from Chase Young, it will be worth it.