Could happen on draft night.
The New Orleans Saints, and really nearly every single team in the top-10 of the 2026 NFL Draft, have been linked with copious amounts of trade rumors this offseason. For the Saints, it has been all about trading up to grab one of their top players, which is not crazy with Mickey Loomis in charge, but it does go against what they have done in recent years.
The Saints have become pretty patient during the draft. Even last year, with Tyler Shough slowly dropping down the board, the Saints had stayed put and allowed their new starting QB to fall right into their laps. This type of patience makes sense given where the team is in its rebuilding process, but with the growing confidence after Shough's rookie season, that patience may fall apart quickly.
New Orleans has glaring needs around the roster, and fixing at least two of them with high-level prospects could do wonders for what this team can do next season.
At pick 8, there have been many different conversations about where the Saints can end up, and at the time of writing this, we really do not know the answer yet. So, by considering some options, one could open the door for the Saints to make a major trade in the draft. That scenario is Rueben Bain Jr. going to the Saints.
If Bain Jr. does drop to the Saints' pick at 8 and gets selected by the team, New Orleans would fill one of their major needs right away. WR and EDGE have been at the top of the needs list since the first week of free agency finished, and going into the draft, both positions need high-level investment. The good thing for both positions is the fact that the depth is good as well, which helps, but fixing it first at 8 would be a major win. The edge rushers at the back of the first round are good, but the WRs are even better. So getting Bain Jr. at 8 will then open up the oppurtunity to trade up to the back of the first and grab a guy the Saints may view as a potential WR1.
The price is an obvious factor, and with many considering this year's class to lack true first-round talent, the assets New Orleans would have to give up may not be as high as usual. So, giving up 42 and a future third in 2027 may be enough to get the deal done.
Some of the names that stand out as options are Omar Cooper Jr., KC Concepcion, and Denzel Boston.