The New Orleans Saints were once staring down the barrel of a top-two pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. That kind of draft capital usually means a shot at a franchise-altering player-especially on a roster in need of some serious retooling.
But then Tyler Shough happened. The veteran quarterback stepped in, sparked a late-season surge, and suddenly the Saints found themselves picking at No. 8 instead of No.
Now, that’s still a premium spot in the draft. You can land a cornerstone player there.
But when it comes to Ohio State linebacker Arvell Reese-the kind of defensive prospect who doesn’t just fill a need but redefines a unit-eight might be too far back. Reese is being projected as a top-three pick across the board, with most mock drafts locking him in at No. 2 overall.
That’s where things get interesting.
If New Orleans wants Reese, they’ll likely have to move up. And with Mickey Loomis running the show, that’s never out of the question.
He’s not shy about pulling the trigger on a big trade when he believes the right guy is on the board. And according to Pro Football Focus, Reese fits the Saints like a glove in Brandon Staley’s defensive scheme.
Let’s dig into why.
The Saints struggled to generate consistent pressure this season, finishing with the 10th-worst team pass-rush grade in the NFL, per PFF. That’s a problem-especially considering that Demario Davis, the heartbeat of their linebacker corps, is now 37 years old.
They need an infusion of youth, speed, and versatility in the front seven. Reese checks all those boxes.
In 2025, Reese racked up eight sacks, tied for fourth-most among college linebackers. He also posted an 86.5 run-defense grade, which speaks to his ability to impact the game beyond just getting after the quarterback. He’s a downhill player with burst and instincts, and he’s got the kind of scheme versatility that defensive coordinators dream about.
Whether he lines up off the ball or on the edge, Reese brings juice. In New Orleans, he’d likely be used as an outside linebacker rotating in with Chase Young, Carl Granderson, and potentially Cameron Jordan-if the veteran decides to return.
But make no mistake: Reese can do more than just spell the starters. He’s got the potential to be a game-changer off the edge, especially when matched up one-on-one with left tackles.
That kind of flexibility is rare, and it’s exactly what the Saints need as they look to retool their defense.
Of course, trading up into the top three isn’t cheap. But Loomis has a history of making bold moves in Round 1.
He traded up for Chris Olave, Marcus Davenport, Brandin Cooks, and Mark Ingram. Not all of those moves hit, but that’s never stopped him from swinging big.
Back in the day, he even jumped from No. 17 to No. 6 to grab Johnathan Sullivan and from No. 10 to No. 7 for Sedrick Ellis. Neither panned out long-term, but the aggressiveness was there-and it still is.
So what would it take to move from No. 8 to No. 2?
We’ve seen similar deals before. In 2023, the Texans went from No. 12 to No. 3 to grab Will Anderson after locking down CJ Stroud.
That cost them a second-rounder that year, plus a first and third the following year-but they did get a fourth-rounder back in the deal. If the Saints believe Shough is their quarterback of the future (and their recent play suggests they might), they wouldn’t be moving up for a signal-caller.
That could lower the price tag.
The team sitting at No. 2?
The New York Jets. With no top-tier quarterback likely to be available at that spot, they might be open to moving down and stockpiling picks for 2027.
That opens the door for Loomis to make a move-if he’s willing to pay the price.
The Saints have needs across the board, but adding a dynamic, versatile defender like Arvell Reese could be the kind of move that resets the tone for the entire defense. If Loomis believes Reese is that guy, history tells us he won’t hesitate to go get him.