Mickey Loomis is the only one who enjoys being the most aggressive at the NFL Draft. The New Orleans Saints have a well-known practice of trading during the draft, particularly when they want to move up to choose a player they like.
It hasn’t always benefited them in the past. The Saints acquired picks 16 and 19 from the Eagles in 2022 in exchange for the 18th pick, a 2023 first round selection (pick No. 10), and a 2022 sixth round selection. After that, they combined picks 16, 98, and 120 in order to select Chris Olave, but instead drafted Trevor Penning with the other pick. The Saints then traded their 2019 first round pick and pick 27, 147 to the Packers in 2018 in order to advance to pick 14, where Marcus Davenport was selected. Only one of the three first round picks they traded for has turned out to be successful.
I figured we could go through and look at some possible trade scenarios with the Saints first round choice this year, since the draft is in less than a week.
Picks 7, 20,25, sixth, and draft are exchanged by the Saints for Tennessee’s choice 14, 2025, second. Joe Alt, Stanford vs. Notre Dame
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In this scenario, the Saints are targeting Joe Alt, the top offensive tackle available this year, in the draft. The Saints go for the best tackle available, with QBs going 1-2-3 and the Chargers passing on Alt in favor of Malik Nabers at No. 5.
With the Chargers, Giants, and Titans all vying for the Notre Dame tackle, it’s difficult to imagine a scenario in which Joe Alt makes it out of the top seven. However, if he can get past New York and Los Angeles, the Saints may decide to take a chance on him.
The Saints trade choice 14 to the Steelers in exchange for Troy Fautanu’s 2024 CFP draft selections, picks 20, 51, and 178. Championship match: Michigan vs. Washington
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In my opinion, the Saints should deal the Steelers in order to obtain some additional draft money, and that is precisely what they do in this transaction.
Through trade down, the Saints get a spot in the top-20, picks 51st and 178th overall, and one of the best tackles available in Troy Fautanu (or any of the other guys like Amarius Mims, Taliese Fuaga, etc.).
The Saints, who are trying to address a number of issues in 2017 draft, would greatly benefit from being able to add another day two choice to the mix.
Chicago vs. Minnesota: The Saints trade choice 14 to the Chiefs in exchange for first round selections 32, 131, and 2025 and take Jer’Zhan Newton.
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The Saints would receive a second first-round pick in the following year’s draft and add a fourth to the mix for a potential third-round trade up, so this seems like the less-than-ideal trade back scenario.
It goes without saying that the Saints will probably select a tackle in the first round, but if they can select Newton—one of the top defensive linemen in the draft—and then use their second round pick to select a great tackle like Jordan Morgan or Kingsley Suamataia, they might make a good haul.