Arvell Reese to Saints? Insider projects massive NFL Draft trade-up

The NFL Draft is less than 24 hours away! At this point, it’s clear that Fernando Mendoza is going No. 1 overall to the Las Vegas Raiders, but the rest of the first round on Thursday night could go any which way. There are certainly some surprises in store, but the real big moves could start at No. 3 with the Arizona Cardinals.

The Jets are expected to go with a pass rusher at No. 2 overall, whether it be Arvell Reese, David Bailey or Rueben Bain Jr. According to NFL insider Daniel Jeremiah, it will be Bailey, who is the best pure pass rusher in the class. At No. 3, Jeremiah predicted in his latest mock draft that the Cardinals will trade back to No. 8 and the New Orleans Saints will move up to select Reese out of Ohio State.

Reese is a great prospect and has a chance to be a true superstar as a pass-rusher, with incredible physical traits that should translate as he develops more technically at the position after moving from linebacker.

If any team does want to move up to get Reese, or anyone else, in the top five, the Cardinals are the team to be calling. Arizona has a lot of needs under new head coach Mike LaFleur, but this isn’t viewed as a draft full of blue-chip prospects after Mendoza at No. 1. While they could still stay put and pick Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love, the Cardinals have enough holes on the roster to be willing to trade back for more draft capital.

That becomes even more true given the state of the 2027 quarterback class. There are expected to be a number of big-time quarterback prospects next year, headlined by Arch Manning coming out of Texas. The Saints believe that Tyler Shough is their quarterback of the future, so giving up a first-round pick next year is okay if it means they get a blue-chip prospect this year.

On the other hand, the quarterback-less Cardinals would happily take another gamble to get an extra first-rounder next year as they hunt for their next franchise signal-caller.

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