By Ross Jackson
Because of the patience the New Orleans Saints delayed during the 2025 NFL Draft, the team now has the opportunity to be more aggressive during the 2026 selection process.
With that, New Orleans could follow the example of teams like the Baltimore Ravens, Houston Texans and New York Giants, trading up to get a second selection in the draft’s opening round.
Should the Saints land a top prospect at No. 8 overall as expected, but want to leap for another specific name at the end of the first round, they have more than enough capital to do so.
Last year, the Giants traded their No. 34 and No. 99 picks in the 2025 draft along with a 2026 third-rounder to the Texans for the No. 25 overall selection.
This allowed them to select quarterback Jaxson Dart after taking edge rusher Abdul Carter at No. 3 overall.
According to trade charts, which assign a value to picks in a trade, the Giants overpaid by only about 40-50 points to make the leap.
The Saints’ second and third round picks, Nos. 42 and 73 respectively, carry a value of 705 points on the Jimmy Johnson value chart, 207 on the Rich Hill chart and 1,932 on the Fitzgerald-Spielberger chart.
In every case but the Hill chart, a move into the first round is well within reach for New Orleans. In the lone outlier chart, adding in the Saints’ fourth-round No. 132 overall selection would help them get back into the bottom of the first.
Draft targets like Washington wide receiver Denzel Boston, Texas A&M wideout KC Concepcion, edge rusher Cashius Howell of A&M and Miami defensive end Akheem Mesidor could each be among the group of players to inspire such a leap, depending on the team’s No. 8 overall investment.
It’s likely not necessary, as New Orleans is in position to land an impact player by sticking and picking in round two. But, if the right name were available late, Saints general manager Mickey Loomis has proven to be aggressive in the past.
Similarly, the Saints have the fodder necessary to also make less drastic, but still notable advances within Day 2. New Orleans won’t have much in its way, aside from another team’s cooperation, to go and get the players they want in this year’s draft, should they choose to go that route.
Otherwise, trusting their board proved them right just last year, and could be their approach again in 2026.
