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Saints Trade Up to Grab Top WR, Add 1st-Round CB
New Orleans moves up to No. 5 overall to secure a top wide receiver and add a former first-round cornerback.
Apr. 6, 2026 at 1:13pm
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The New Orleans Saints are looking to take the next step in 2026 and need help at wide receiver and cornerback. ESPN's Bill Barnwell proposed a trade with the New York Giants that would see the Saints move up from No. 8 to No. 5 overall, jumping two WR-needy teams to land their preferred wide receiver while also acquiring a 2023 first-round cornerback to bolster their secondary.
Why it matters
The Saints are aiming to build on their promising 2025 season and need to add top-end talent at key positions. Securing a top wide receiver and a former first-round cornerback could be crucial in helping the team take the next step in the NFC.
The details
In the proposed trade, the Saints would send the No. 8 overall pick, a third-rounder, and a fifth-rounder to the Giants in exchange for the No. 5 overall pick and cornerback Deonte Banks. This would allow the Saints to jump the Cleveland Browns and Washington Commanders, two other teams in need of wide receiver help, to ensure they land their preferred wideout, likely Ohio State's Carnell Tate. While Banks hasn't lived up to his first-round billing so far, he could be a high-upside addition for the Saints after they lost Alontae Taylor in free agency.
- The 2026 NFL Draft is scheduled for April 24-26, 2026.
The players
Tyler Shough
The Saints' starting quarterback, who had some promising performances at the end of the 2025 season.
Chris Olave
The Saints' top wide receiver, who will be entering his third season in 2026.
Devaungh Vele
A wide receiver for the Saints who will be looking to take on a larger role in 2026.
Carnell Tate
The Ohio State wide receiver who is expected to be one of the top prospects in the 2026 NFL Draft class.
Deonte Banks
A cornerback for the New York Giants who was a first-round pick in 2023 but has yet to live up to his draft position.
What they’re saying
“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.”
— Bill Barnwell, ESPN Analyst
What’s next
The Saints will need to finalize any potential trade with the Giants before the 2026 NFL Draft, which is scheduled for April 24-26, 2026.
The takeaway
This proposed trade would be a bold move by the Saints to aggressively address their needs at wide receiver and cornerback, potentially setting them up for success in the 2026 season and beyond.
