Saints acquire second first-round pick in 2022 NFL Draft from Eagles: What New Orleans could do with the pick
Written by ABC AUDIO ALL RIGHTS RESERVED on April 4, 2022
The Philadelphia Eagles are sending the No. 16 overall and No. 19 overall selections in the 2022 NFL Draft to the New Orleans Saints in exchange for No. 18 overall, No. 101 overall, No. 237 overall, a 2023 first-round pick and a 2024 second-round pick, both teams announced Monday afternoon. Philadelphia is also sending the No. 194 overall pick to New Orleans.
New Orleans now holds the No. 16 overall and No. 19 overall selections in this month’s draft, whereas the Eagles have No. 15 and No. 18 overall. The 2022 NFL Draft will be held April 28-30 in Las Vegas, Nevada.
The Saints, who lost out on the Deshaun Watson trade saga, could be in the market for a quarterback. The team also has needs at offensive tackle, wide receiver and more. In last week’s mock draft, New Orleans selected Liberty quarterback Malik Willis in the first round.
The NFC South franchise finished the 2021 campaign with a 9-8 record; falling short of an NFL playoff berth. Shortly after the season, head coach Sean Payton announced that he was stepping away from the team. Jameis Winston is slated to be the team’s Week 1 starting quarterback at this time.
If New Orleans is comfortable with Winston at quarterback, then offensive tackle and wide receiver make the most sense. Left tackle Terron Armstead signed a lucrative contract with the Dolphins in free agency. After Armstead’s injury last season, New Orleans placed rookie Landon Young into the starting lineup. Young looked good in a limited role but suffered his own season-ending injury during his first start. The Saints could target Tulsa’s Tyler Smith, Central Michigan’s Bernhard Raimann, Mississippi State’s Charles Cross or Northern Iowa’s Trevor Penning at offensive tackle.
The options at wide receiver have been well-documented. CBSSports.com has Ohio State’s Garrett Wilson as the top rated wide receiver. Alabama’s Jameson Williams, USC’s Drake London, Arkansas’ Treylon Burks and Ohio State’s Chris Olave round out the top five.
Based on where the Saints are picking, they could walk away with both Penning and Williams. The players currently ranked No. 16 overall and No. 19 overall currently Clemson cornerback Andrew Booth Jr. and Michigan safety Daxton Hill.
Some of the other positions of need include tight end and safety. The team also has picks at No. 49 overall and No. 98 overall.
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