With the 2026 NFL Draft just hours away, NFL Network analyst Daniel Jeremiah released his final mock draft projection, forecasting four first-round trades and highlighting the New Orleans Saints as one of two teams expected to move up in the opening round.
According to Jeremiah’s final forecast published on April 22, 2026, the Saints would trade their 2027 first-round pick to the Arizona Cardinals in exchange for moving up from the No. 8 overall selection to the No. 3 spot. This aggressive move would allow New Orleans to select Ohio State’s Arvell Reese, a versatile edge defender who played both linebacker and defensive finish in college.
Jeremiah’s scenario hinges on the Cardinals’ willingness to trade down. “If the Cardinals stay put at No. 3, I think Jeremiyah Love is the pick,” Jeremiah wrote in his mock draft analysis. “If they are offered a 2027 first-round pick to trade down, that’s going to be a tough deal for them to pass on. So, they take it in this scenario.”
The projected trade aligns with the Saints’ recent draft history. Jeremiah noted that New Orleans has made 25 draft trades since 2008, and in every instance, the team has traded up to select a player. This pattern suggests general manager Mickey Loomis remains aggressive in pursuing targeted talent through draft-day maneuvering.
Arvell Reese emerged as a prime target for the Saints due to his dual capability as a pass rusher and linebacker. During the 2025 season, Reese recorded eight total sacks and 23 pressures on just 104 pass-rushing snaps for the Buckeyes. His athletic profile stood out at the NFL Scouting Combine, where he ran a 4.46-second 40-yard dash at 6-foot-4 and 241 pounds.
Reese’s versatility presents multiple deployment options for New Orleans’ defense. Jeremiah suggested the former Ohio State standout is likely to transition to an edge defender at the professional level, where he would compete for snaps alongside established players like Cameron Jordan and Payton Turner.
The Saints’ interest in Reese fits within a broader context of their defensive needs. Entering the 2026 draft, New Orleans held the No. 8 overall pick but had been linked to several pass rushers projected to go in the top ten. Trading up to No. 3 would secure a premium pass-rushing talent earlier than their original slot would allow.
In Jeremiah’s mock draft scenario, the Cardinals select Jeremiyah Love with the No. 3 pick if they hold their position. Love, a defensive tackle from Notre Dame, would address Arizona’s interior defensive line needs. However, if the Cardinals accept the Saints’ offer of a future first-rounder, they would gain additional draft capital although allowing New Orleans to target Reese.
The projected trade would join three other first-round swaps in Jeremiah’s final mock draft. While he did not specify the other three trades in the available summaries, the analyst emphasized that uncertainty increases beyond the first overall pick, making precise trade predictions challenging despite expecting “a decent number of trades on Thursday night.”
For the Saints, moving up to select Reese would represent a significant investment in their defensive front seven. The team has made 25 draft trades since 2008, all involving moving up in the draft order, indicating a consistent philosophy under Loomis of trading future assets for immediate access to preferred prospects.
Reese’s production at Ohio State showed promise as a pass-rushing specialist. His eight sacks in 2025 came in limited snaps, suggesting high efficiency when on the field. The 20-year-old’s combination of size (6-foot-4, 241 pounds) and speed (4.46 40-yard dash) aligns with modern NFL preferences for versatile edge defenders who can rush the passer and drop into coverage.
The Saints’ draft strategy under Loomis has historically favored aggressive movement up the board. Their 25 trade-ups since 2008 demonstrate a willingness to part with future picks to secure targeted players, a approach that would continue with this projected move for Reese.
As draft night approaches, the validity of Jeremiah’s projection will be tested in real time. Whether the Cardinals actually trade down to No. 8 and whether the Saints follow through with offering their 2027 first-round pick remains to be seen when the draft begins at 8 p.m. ET on April 23, 2026.
The projected selection of Arvell Reese at No. 3 would immediately impact New Orleans’ defensive planning. Adding a young, versatile pass rusher could allow the Saints to be more creative with their front seven alignments while potentially reducing snaps for aging veterans.
For Arizona, trading down would accumulate additional draft capital while still addressing a need with Jeremiyah Love at No. 8. The Cardinals would gain flexibility to move again later in the draft or stockpile picks for future years.
As with all mock drafts, Jeremiah’s projection represents one analyst’s informed prediction rather than a certainty. The actual draft may feature different trades, selections, and outcomes based on team needs, player evaluations, and last-minute negotiations that cannot be fully anticipated.
Fans can follow the live coverage of Round 1 of the 2026 NFL Draft beginning at 8 p.m. ET on April 23 on NFL Network, NFL+, the NFL Channel, ABC, ESPN and ESPN Deportes to see whether Jeremiah’s forecast of Saints trading up for Arvell Reese comes to fruition.
What does this potential move imply for the Saints’ defensive outlook? Adding a premium pass rusher like Reese could significantly upgrade New Orleans’ ability to generate pressure on opposing quarterbacks, a area where they have sought improvement in recent seasons.
How might Reese fit within the Saints’ existing defensive scheme? His reported versatility as both a pass rusher and linebacker suggests defensive coordinator Dennis Allen could deploy him in multiple roles depending on game situations and matchups.
What are the risks of trading up for a defensive player? While securing a targeted prospect eliminates uncertainty about their availability, it requires surrendering future draft capital that could be used to address multiple needs or acquire additional talent.
The 2026 NFL Draft’s first round will begin in approximately 24 hours, at which point the accuracy of Jeremiah’s final mock draft – including the projected Saints trade up to select Arvell Reese – will begin to be determined by the actual selections made by NFL franchises.
