Arvell Reese Projected to NFC South Team in Wild Trade-Up Scenario

Earlier Wednesday, Arvell Reese told Newsweek that his favorite part of the draft process has been meeting coaches and general managers across the NFL.

“Just meeting a bunch of guys who have been around the game of football for a long time and treating everybody with the utmost respect because you never know where you’re gonna end up,” the Ohio State star said.

Well, he might end up in New Orleans.

For months, Reese has been universally projected as a top-five - and often top-three - across mock drafts. It’s the eve of the 2026 NFL draft, and he’s still projected to be one of the first picks off the board. But now, longtime draft expert Daniel Jeremiah predicts that the New Orleans Saints will trade up to nab Reese at No. 3 overall.

If the Cardinals stay put at No. 3, I think Jeremiyah Love is the pick,” Jeremiah wrote in his final mock draft. “If they are offered a 2027 first-round pick to trade down, that's going to be a tough deal for them to pass on. So, they take it in this scenario.”

Jeremiah continued, “The Saints have made 25 draft trades since 2008. They traded up in all 25 instances. Assistant GM Jeff Ireland was with the Cowboys when they drafted Pro Football Hall of Famer DeMarcus Ware, so he’s aware of the difference an elite pass rusher can make. Defensive coordinator Brandon Staley might be reminded of a player he’s coached at multiple spots in his career, 2016 first-round pick Leonard Floyd.”

Reese earned All-American honors as a joker in Ohio State defensive coordinator Matt Patricia’s scheme in 2025. He was also named the Big Ten Butkus-Fitzgerald Linebacker of the Year, though he’s expected to play as an edge rusher in the NFL.

Regardless of position, Reese knows what he’ll bring to the field.

“I can guarantee they’re getting somebody who will play with relentless effort and a high level of violence,” he told Newsweek.

The first round will begin at 8 p.m. EST on Thursday, and the draft will continue through Saturday in Pittsburgh.

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This story was originally published April 22, 2026 at 6:27 PM.