The Saints were involved in the latest noteworthy trade this offseason, acquiring an extra first-round pick from the Eagles. While many feel that was the precursor to a move for the team’s next long-term quarterback, CBS Sports’ Jason La Canfora reports that at least some executives around the league don’t see it that way. 
As he writes, there are multiple general managers “who believe this trade is more about going all-in right now… than it is about finding their QB of the future or beating someone to the punch for that”. As a result of the trade, New Orleans now owns picks No. 16 and 19; that could put them within range of a signal-caller, or give them a means of trading up ahead of another quarterback-needy team.
Instead, that extra pick could be used to bolster the team’s current roster. If they keep both selections, it wouldn’t come as a surprise if the team tries to upgrade its offense. After the re-signing of Jameis Winston, left tackle and wide receiver stand out as sizeable roster holes. The Saints need to replace Terron Armstead, who left in free agency, and compliment Michael Thomas, whose health (and, therefore, ability to return to his All-Pro form) remains in question.
As one general manager said, the Saints could be “looking around at the NFC, and thinking they have as good a shot as anyone, especially if they land two impact players with these picks”. Instead of a rebuilding year in the absence of Super Bowl-winning coach Sean Payton and a short-term deal in place with Winston, 2022 could instead turn out to be a season in which the Saints look to return to playoff contention.
Yeah Nola build on that great quarterback you have lol
Snooze Button
Ah yes, the 16th and 19th picks in the draft. Where teams always find stars who move the needle in their rookie seasons.
Well the greatest receiver off all time was drafted at 16 you never know.
Who?lol
Jerry Rice
AB was drafted in the 6th bro.
Just curious. When he said “greatest receiver of all time”, how many wide receivers came to your mind other than rice?
Moss. Only person I thought if besides rice. Some folks be Trolling heavy on here.
How many decades ago was that again?
DK Metcalf was good from the start as the 64th pick and so was Justin Jefferson as the 22nd. If you take Olave at 16 it might be the same.
Pointing out individual success stories doesn’t contradict the realistic odds of finding immediate rookie difference makers in the back half of the first round. These are exceptions, not rules.
There’s a pretty good chance of taking an impact position player at 16.
Impact in their rookie year? Look at the back half of recent first rounds.
Comparatively? The first round is impactful, just in general. There’s no reason to ignore the picks, they’re always helpful. Immediate impact from rookies is rare no matter the draft slot. If a team gets a full time starter from a pick, that’s already impactful on its own.
I’m not arguing that first round picks aren’t impactful. I’m arguing that tying drafting 16th and 19th in 2022 to being all-in in 2022 is out of touch with any realistic prediction of how players drafted in those spots will perform as rookies.
2021: Smith (10th)
2020: Jeudy (15th), Lamb (17th), Jefferson (22nd)
Now you are making a different argument. Regardless of where you draft a player the likelihood of drafting an immediate star player at any position is unlikely. This though is one of the best WR drafts in years and I would say there is a higher likelihood than normal you can get a guy that helps immediately. Even last year DeVonta Smith was a kid first round pick who was immediately the best WR on the Eagles.
I like this year’s receiver crop, but those are all better prospects you listed. They also were in drafts with better QB prospects, which pushed them down. But also, picking out success stories isn’t the same as saying something is probable and predictable enough to make an actual plan.
If you want to argue there is no 100% guarantee to draft a star WR every time you draft in the first round then you win. Just consider that maybe the Saints did there homework and their scouting dept saw a WR that made them say this guy is a future star.
They don’t even know which players are going to be on the board then! If the Saints got an extra first this year because they feel like they’ll be able to fill two major long term needs in the first round, that’s fine. But suggesting that that’s a realistic path to competing this year is just ignoring the reality of what you get out of rookies from the back half of the first round. One of the four guys you named doesn’t even qualify.
Rookie head coach and Winston as
QB doesn’t sound like ‘all in’…..
Dennis Allen is not a rookie head coach. In fact, his previous outing was pretty terrible. Maybe he’s learned a few things since, we’ll see, but he’s definitely not a rookie.
You are correct, I guess that 8-28 record with the Raiders didn’t make a strong impression with me.
lol you fellas on this comments section are hilarious. You’re all literally the meme of the guy yelling some useless bro fact to a bored woman at a party. Some nameless, faceless person online doesn’t believe in the New Orleans Saints’ 2022 decision making. Oh no, scrap everything — award winning sports pundit htbnm57 disagrees with everything.
Yes it was terrible. But
Agreed they aren’t winning anything with Allen as a coach and Winston the QB. The question should be going all in on what? A top ten pick next year?
As an Eagles fan I approve of this course of action
I think they may move up to grab a OT
It was the raiders.
excuse me?
Cmon Saints chances at winning went when Drew retired. You still have some amazing players but without a QB your not going to do anything.
They should take a QB and with the other first trade down and load up in the second and third rounds. Then address the T and the WR group.
The Jags and Raiders had double picks in the top 20 in the 2020 draft so were they going “all in” too?
All the people laughing at the Saints, did you forget they almost made the playoffs last season despite being decimated by injuries?
Injuries or not, a 1-3 record against NFC East teams won’t get you a lot of respect.
Get your bags ready New Orleans because the Aints will be making their return soon
Not a hand I’d go all in with