The 2026 NFL Draft is just over a week away, and the trade winds are already blowing. According to a report from Albert Breer at Sports Illustrated, five of the seven teams picking before the New Orleans Saints are actively looking to trade down from their current spots. This could set the stage for a familiar scenario in the Big Easy.

For nearly two decades, Saints General Manager Mickey Loomis has shown a clear preference for moving up, not down, in the draft order. His philosophy is simple: target a specific player and go get him, rather than accumulate more picks and settle for less. This aggressive approach has yielded hits like wide receivers Brandin Cooks and Chris Olave, though it has also come with some costly misses.

The teams reportedly looking to slide back—the Cardinals, Titans, Giants, Browns, and Commanders—all want to stockpile more draft capital. The challenge, as Breer notes, is finding a trade partner willing to move up. This is where the Saints' history becomes highly relevant. With a clear need for a dynamic pass rusher, New Orleans could be a prime candidate to jump into the top seven.

The draft's top two picks are considered locked in, but the board opens up after that. Ohio State's versatile linebacker/edge rusher Arvell Reese is seen as a premier prospect who fits the modern mold of a defensive weapon, similar to players like Micah Parsons. If Reese is their target, the Saints' front office, led by Loomis, has shown they aren't afraid to make the bold call to secure their guy. As teams ahead of them look to move out, the Saints might just be looking for a way in.