The idea of New Orleans Saints trading up for Rueben Bain was bound to be thrown out eventually. The Saints need an edge rusher. Bain is one of the top edge rushers in the NFL Draft. Add in the fact that the edge rushers are expected to come off the board early, it was just a matter of time before teams trading up for Bain was discussed. Ian Rapoport finally did it.
Bain is typically expected to be the last of the top 3 edge rushers off the board. If he dips to sixth or seventh, Rapoport believes the Saints, as well as the Dallas Cowboys and Kansas City Chiefs, could consider trading up. Rapoport's statement wasn't inside information. It sounded more like teams need edge rusher help, so they could jump for the last of the top options.
From The Insiders on @NFLNetwork: Breaking down the 16 in-person Draft invites, inclding this: Could Rueben Bain Jr. be the subject of the Draft's first trade? pic.twitter.com/wNYX5NE5hV
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) April 9, 2026
Trading up for Rueben Bain will be unnecessary for the Saints
It’s hard to imagine a board where trading up for Bain feels mandatory. There's many talented prospects who could be in play at 8. While the board ahead of the Saints is unpredictable, the Saints have so many avenues that make more sense than trading away a pick for Bain. This is all under the assumption he isn’t the Saints far and wide best prospect. If that’s the case, you just grab him.
There’s going to be a lot of players on the board, and it should give the Saints room to be patient. David Bailey, Caleb Downs and Mansoor Delane could all be available when we get to pick 5. Would it be worth trading up for Bain with any of those defenders available?
The price may not be more than a third round pick, defending on how high the Saints aim to trade. Still, there's no price to sticking and picking. It also could get you one of the players mentioned. To be more specific, Caleb Downs on the board makes it hard to fully get on board with trading up for a different defender.
Moving away from defense, the best receiver in the draft could be on the board for New Orleans. There's been a high emphasis placed on defense, but wide receiver is completely an option in the first round. It's also a position that may not go too early.
There's only so many picks ahead of the Saints. Any of the alternatives to Bain could go ahead of him and conversely push him to the Saints. Bain could fall to 8 or push another top prospect at a position of need down to 8. It's too many good options and uncertainty to say trading up for Bain will feel necessary in the moment. If anything, it would be so no one behind the Saints jumps in front of them.