Eagles, Saints shake up draft with major pick swap
The NFL Draft is still weeks away, but the Philadelphia Eagles and New Orleans Saints have already agreed to a major pick swap.
The Eagles, who originally had three first-round picks in this year’s draft, have traded the No. 16, No. 19, and No. 194 pick to the New Orleans Saints in exchange for No. 18, a 2023 first-round pick and more. Here’s the full breakdown of the deal:
A major shakeup to this year’s draft.
More ahead on ESPN’s NFL Live on the air now. pic.twitter.com/CYOwDEAymn
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) April 4, 2022
By making the trade, the Eagles now have two picks in the first 18 selections this year and two picks in the first round next year. As ESPN’s Adam Schefter noted, that likely signals that they are going to give Jalen Hurts another year to prove himself. The 2023 draft is considered much deeper at the quarterback position, and the Eagles are now positioned to target a top QB a year from now if they need to.
The Saints now have three picks in the top 50 this year.
Eagles general manager Howie Roseman has always shown a willingness to swap picks, so the deal is hardly a shock. On paper, it looks like another smart one for Philadelphia.
Photo: Jul 28, 2021; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia Eagles general manager Howie Roseman speaks with the media at training camp at NovaCare Complex. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
