The New Orleans Saints are looking to take the next step in 2026 after some promising end-of-season performances from Tyler Shough and company in 2025.
To make the next leap, the Saints will need help at wide receiver and cornerback. With the No. 8 overall pick, they will have a good chance to make such an addition during the draft. But adding the top WR might be a bit tricky.
That's why ESPN's Bill Barnwell proposed the Saints trade up with the New York Giants, sending a third and a fifth to move up from No. 8 to No. 5 overall, jumping two WR-needy teams, while also landing a 2023 first-round cornerback to beef up the secondary.
Saints trade idea jumps 2 WR needy teams to land top WR, and add a CB
"Giants get: 1-8, 3-73, 5-172. Saints get: 1-5, CB Deonte Banks," Barnwell writes. "They would likely need to leap the Browns and Commanders to jump the queue for Tate, who would slot alongside Chris Olave and Devaungh Vele as starting wide receivers for Tyler Shough."
This move-up for the Saints wouldn't cost too much, just a third-rounder and a fifth-rounder to jump the Cleveland Browns and Washington Commanders, two WR-needy teams, to make sure the Saints will get the top WR.
Carnell Tate out of Ohio State has emerged as the likely favorite to be taken first among this wide receiver class, and with the Browns and Commanders both needing WR help, Tate making it to No. 8 is far from a guarantee.
More: Carnell Tate is scheduled to visit with Saints among four other top-10 picking teams for 2026 NFL Draft
Instead of risking it, the Saints could swing a deal similar to what Barnell proposed, moving up a few spots with the Giants to ensure they land their preferred WR.
While Deonte Banks, the 2023 first-round CB, hasn't been impressive for New York in his career, he could be a dart-throw addition for the Saints after losing Alontae Taylor in free agency.
This would be an interesting trade for the Saints, as they could effectively guarantee they get their preferred WR in the 2026 NFL Draft class while also taking a dart-throw on a cornerback who had talent to be taken in Round 1 a few years ago.
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