When the 2026 NFL Draft came and went, the New Orleans Saints walked away with a highly-regarded class, led by wide receiver Jordyn Tyson at pick No. 8. But behind the scenes, there was more drama brewing than the final draft board suggested.
According to ESPN's Jeremy Fowler, several NFL teams believed the Saints were seriously considering a bold trade-up inside the top 10—with one specific target in mind: Texas Tech edge rusher David Bailey.
"A few teams I spoke to this week believed that, if Texas Tech pass rusher David Bailey had fallen out of the top three, perhaps New Orleans would have jumped on picking him," Fowler reported.
The rumor makes sense from a roster-building perspective. With future Hall of Famer Cameron Jordan entering the twilight of his career, the Saints are clearly looking to inject youth and explosiveness into their pass rush. Bailey, coming off a dominant 14.5-sack season for the Red Raiders, would have been the perfect heir apparent.
Of course, the Saints also had glaring needs at wide receiver and cornerback, leading to some speculation they might move up for a player like Carnell Tate if they valued him more than Tyson. But the draft board had other plans.
Bailey was scooped up at No. 2 overall, leaving the Saints without their rumored trade target. Without a reason to jump up, New Orleans stayed put at No. 8 and landed a difference-maker in Tyson—a move that ultimately worked out well for the franchise.
Not everyone was convinced the Saints were gearing up for a blockbuster trade. Fowler noted that one NFL executive pushed back on the rumor, arguing the Saints weren't seriously exploring a move up for Bailey. And there's logic to that skepticism: trading up in the top 10 typically requires significant draft capital, and New Orleans had multiple roster holes to fill.
With Bailey gone before they could even test the trade market, the Saints' true intentions will remain a mystery—unless general manager Mickey Loomis decides to share the inside story. For now, Saints fans can take comfort in knowing their team walked away with a strong draft class, even if the big swing never materialized.