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The New Orleans Saints went into the 2019 NFL Draft with only one pick in the first four rounds because of a series of trades that brought them defensive end Marcus Davenport, backup quarterback Teddy Bridgewater and starting cornerback Eli Apple. And still, the Saints selected three players they had in the top 70 on their draft board.



For next year, the Saints already are without a second-round pick because of another trade, the one that allowed them to move up in the second round Friday (April 26) so they could select interior offensive lineman Erik McCoy out of Texas A&M.

The Saints also are without a seventh-round pick for the 2020 NFL Draft because that was part of the deal the Saints made to get Apple from the New York Giants last season.

The Saints have a history of using picks from the next year’s draft as a way to move up when they get a player they want to pursue. The Saints have traded up 17 times since 2007, which also is the last year they made a trade down to acquire more picks for later in the draft. Seven of those trades included a pick for the next year’s draft.


Many teams have their own approach to the draft. Some, like the Cleveland Browns in recent years, have stockpiled draft picks by regularly trading down. The New England Patriots, however, are a team that will let players leave as free agents so they can accrue a high number of compensatory picks.

The Saints in 2017 traded away the next year’s second-round pick so they could move up in the third round to select two-time Pro Bowl running back Alvin Kamara. In 2018, the Saints shipped off their first-round pick for the next year so they could move up 13 spots needed to select the pass-rushing Davenport at No. 14 overall.

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Supertek

This teams executives want another Championship now. I think after what happened last year especially I am with them all the way. Call it fate or whatever you want but I think we need to just put it all out there. When you have been cheated you are going to fight back no matter how the other teams look at this it is because they have not had to deal with it. I can say Pittsburgh was also slammed by a bad call and we have to move on but the taste left lingers for a long time.

foreverfan

The school is still out on Davenport and Bridgewater, but the best pick in this years draft was starting CB Eli Apple.

K Major

Teddy has the potential to become our QB of the future. Something that didn't exist on our roster prior to his arrival in New Orleans.

SaintGnome

"Saints already without 2 picks for 2020 NFL Draft because of trades"
So?

saintsfan1976

My thoughts, exactly.

voodooido

TB has never been a starting quality quarterback. In his two starting years he had 28 tds, 23 ints and only 6100 yards. Unless SP can work magic TB will never be anything but a quality backup

K Major

Sean Payton has had a full year to work with him. They've seen him in film study, practice and in meetings.

But I think SP and this staff have a lot more insight and knowledge about all the aspects of the decision than any of us do.

Beastmode

And how has this hurt us? Being loaded with picks means the team sucks profusely. A recipe of failure.

BakoSaint

I dont like trading up, especially with future picks. The Patriots do the opposite and accumulate picks, but why emulate a team that has been to 9 straight conference championships? Basically when you trade away future picks that are worth half the value of a present year pick at the same round, its like taking out a payday loan and paying 100% interesting in a year. Its a sucker bet that throws away long term value for the franchise because coaches and gms dont feel secure they will still have the job long enough to make the future picks. If it was all about winning now thats one thing, but then why spend the picks on raw projects and dubious qb of the future? Bridgewater is a nice kid but his stats were never amazing, his injury was catastrophic, and qbs with as much or more potential like rose , foles, etc come available all the time, especially for a coach like payton who qbs would like to work with.