New Orleans Saints Have To Focus On Defense, David Bailey, Rueben Bain First In The 2026 NFL Draft

The New Orleans Saints face a pivotal decision in the 2026 NFL Draft: whether to prioritize defense after a heavily offensive-focused free agency period. While the team bolstered its offense with additions like Noah Fant, David Edwards, and Travis H.N. Jr., the core argument centers on the strategic advantage of drafting defensive talent early—especially elite edge rushers like Reuben Bain Jr., David Bailey, and Arvel Reese—while still leaving room to add offensive weapons later. The host argues that by focusing on defense in the first round, the Saints can rebuild a weakened front seven without sacrificing offensive depth, given the abundance of talent at wide receiver and running back in later rounds. However, the temptation to add playmakers for quarterback Tyler Shuck is strong, especially with the offense showing promise and the team having retained flexibility due to not trading up for Shuck last year. This patience has given the Saints three top-75 picks, enabling aggressive trade-up potential. Beyond draft strategy, the episode highlights the Saints’ expanding global footprint, including exclusive marketing rights in France and Italy, setting the stage for potential international games in Paris and possibly Rome by 2028.