Every draft cycle, fans of the New Orleans Saints find themselves debating the same question: how much will the Saints give up to move up in the draft. However, last year the Saints bucked that trend and landed the NFL’s best draft. However, Most don’t believe that the Saints and Mickey Loomis can do that two years in a row. Therefore, In this mock draft there are two very different paths the Saints could take. One path involves trading down and building a deep, balanced roster filled with value picks. The other path involves making a bold move up the board to secure one of the most explosive players in the entire draft.
Both strategies have their appeal. One strengthens the entire roster. The other bets big on a game-changing weapon.
Let’s break down both possibilities.
Path One: The Trade Down Strategy
In the first scenario the Saints move down slightly in the first round and collect additional assets. The Saints trade pick No. 8 with the Cincinnati Bengals and receive picks 10 and 72 plus a future third round pick.
This approach gives the Saints more swings in a deep draft class and allows them to address multiple roster needs.
R1:10 — S Caleb Downs, Ohio State
The Saints start their haul with one of the most versatile defensive backs in college football, Caleb Downs.
Downs would be an outstanding fit at the Saints STAR position. He has the versatility to cover tight ends, slot receivers, and still play downhill in run support. At Ohio State Buckeyes he routinely handled elite matchups including covering Brock Bowers in space.
He is a tone-setter on defense. A leader. A true football player.
Adding Downs would immediately give the Saints a defensive chess piece that defensive coordinators love to move around.
R2:42 — CB Keionte Scott, Miami
Next comes cornerback Keionte Scott from Miami Hurricanes football.
The Saints recently lost Alontae Taylor, a player who thrived as a blitzing slot corner. Scott offers similar versatility and toughness.
Scott’s 2025 PFF profile shows strong coverage ability:
• 89.6 overall defensive grade
• 87.1 coverage grade
• 80.0 zone coverage grade
• 77.7 man coverage grade
• 91.2 run defense grade
He played 756 defensive snaps and 390 coverage snaps in 2025 while allowing just 332 yards on 56 targets.
Quarterbacks posted only a 69.9 passer rating when targeting him.
Those numbers show a defender who can handle real volume and still produce.
Scott could start in the slot immediately but also has the physical tools to move outside if needed.
R3:72 — RB Mike Washington Jr., Arkansas
Running back Mike Washington Jr. brings rare speed and size to the Saints backfield.
Washington reportedly ran a 4.3 forty-yard dash, and at his size that kind of speed becomes dangerous. He offers a home-run threat every time he touches the football.
He would bring a different dimension to a Saints offense that already features explosive runners.
R3:73 — WR Zachariah Branch, Georgia
Wide receiver Zachariah Branch is another burner.
Adding Branch to a receiver room that already includes players like Chris Olave creates serious vertical stress for defenses.
His speed forces safeties to respect the deep ball and opens space underneath for the rest of the offense.
R4:132 — LB Bryce Boettcher, Oregon
Linebacker Bryce Boettcher impressed scouts during the Senior Bowl week.
He plays downhill, diagnoses plays quickly, and brings physicality to the linebacker room.
Adding Boettcher would strengthen the depth and competition in the Saints linebacker rotation.
R4:136 — EDGE Nadame Tucker, Western Michigan
Edge rusher Nadame Tucker was one of the most productive pass rushers in college football.
In 2025 he posted elite production:
• 14 sacks
• 41 QB hurries
• 6 QB hits
• 316 pass rush snaps
His PFF metrics were impressive as well:
• 93.3 pass rush grade
• 93.9 true pass set pass rush grade
• 28.4 percent pass rush win rate
Those numbers highlight a player who consistently wins off the edge.
If the Saints are preparing for life after Cam Jordan, Tucker could be an important developmental piece.
R5:150 — C Jager Burton, Kentucky
Center Jager Burton fills a practical need.
Erik McCoy has been excellent when healthy but has not always been consistently available. Adding a reliable backup center becomes an important piece of roster construction.
Burton offers experience and depth along the interior offensive line.
R5:172 — WR Jeff Caldwell, Cincinnati
Late in the draft the Saints find a fascinating value pick in Jeff Caldwell.
At 6’5” and 215 pounds, Caldwell has rare size for a wide receiver.
His production profile shows upside:
• 2024: 53 receptions, 1032 yards, 11 touchdowns
• 2025: 32 receptions, 478 yards, 6 touchdowns
He averaged nearly 15 yards per reception in 2025.
Players with his size and vertical ability rarely last this long in drafts. This type of pick is exactly what analysts mean when they say a draft class is “deep at receiver.”
R6:190 — FB Eli Heidenreich, Navy
Finally the Saints take a fascinating offensive weapon in Eli Heidenreich from Navy Midshipmen football.
Heidenreich is one of the most versatile players in the class.
Across the last three seasons he has:
• 499 rushing yards in 2025
• 941 receiving yards in 2025
• 51 receptions
He reportedly runs in the 4.4 range and can line up at fullback, tight end, receiver, running back, and on special teams.
He could become a creative offensive weapon similar to the role long filled by Taysom Hill.
Path Two: The Trade Up Strategy
The second scenario takes the opposite approach.
The Saints move aggressively up the board by trading with the Arizona Cardinals to acquire the No. 3 overall pick.
To make the move, the Saints send:
• Round 1 pick
• Round 3 pick
• Future Round 2
• Future Round 4
That is a massive investment.
But sometimes love requires sacrifice.
And in this case… Love might literally cost everything.
R1:3 — RB Jeremiyah Love, Notre Dame
Running back Jeremiyah Love might be the most explosive player in the draft.
Trading up for him would be controversial because the Saints already have Alvin Kamara and recently added Travis Etienne.
However, Kamara likely has only a year left on the roster.
Love offers a level of explosiveness that few players possess. Some scouts even compare his skillset to a young Reggie Bush.
Saints fans remember what happened the last time the franchise drafted a running back that high.
Three years later the Saints were celebrating a Super Bowl.
R2:42 — WR Chris Bell, Louisville
Wide receiver Chris Bell has drawn comparisons to A. J. Brown because of his physical style and ability to dominate after the catch.
Injuries have caused him to slide down some boards, which could allow the Saints to grab him in the second round.
There is also an interesting storyline here.
Bell previously played with Saints quarterback Tyler Shough in college, and both players have publicly supported the idea of a reunion.
R4:132 — CB Charles Demmings, Stephen F. Austin
Cornerback Charles Demmings is a name Saints fans should remember.
The team reportedly hosted him for a top-30 visit, meaning he is already on the organization’s radar.
His numbers show strong production:
• 4 interceptions in 2025
• 79.6 defensive grade
• 39.8 passer rating allowed
Those types of ball-hawking numbers are hard to ignore.
R4:136 — C Jager Burton, Kentucky
Once again the Saints grab Burton to stabilize the center position behind McCoy.
Depth along the offensive line remains critical for any offense.
R5:150 — EDGE Max Llewellyn, Iowa
Edge rusher Max Llewellyn adds pass rush help and rotational depth.
The Saints defensive front always values players who can generate pressure and contribute in multiple packages.
R5:172 — S Michael Taaffe, Texas
Safety Michael Taaffe gives the Saints a playmaker on the back end.
If the Saints miss out on Downs in this version of the draft, Taaffe still gives them an instinctive defensive back who consistently finds the football.
Which Path Is Better?
The trade-down path builds a deeper roster with multiple potential contributors across the defense and offense.
The trade-up path swings for a superstar.
One approach strengthens the roster from top to bottom.
The other bets that one elite playmaker can transform an offense.
And that is the beauty of draft season.
Two roads. Two philosophies. One decision for the Saints front office.
Saints fans just have to wait and see which path the team chooses.
