Saints, Eagles swap multiple 1st-rounders in 8-pick trade

The New Orleans Saints acquired the 16th and 19th overall picks in the 2022 NFL Draft from the Philadelphia Eagles for the 18th selection in a deal involving eight total choices, the Saints announced Monday.

The Saints come out of the swap with the pair of first-round picks plus a sixth-round selection (No. 194). The Eagles get back five picks: a first-rounder (No. 18), a third-rounder (No. 101), a seventh-rounder (No. 237), a 2023 first-rounder, and a 2024 second-rounder.

Philadelphia still owns the 15th overall pick, meaning the club is on track to take two players on Day 1 of the NFL draft. The Eagles obtained the 15th pick in a trade with the Miami Dolphins last year. The 16th pick, which is headed to New Orleans, originally belonged to the Indianapolis Colts and went to Philadelphia in the Carson Wentz trade.

New Orleans is now a candidate to trade up for its preferred quarterback prospect early in the 2022 draft. The Saints re-signed Jameis Winston in free agency after striking out on bigger names and still face uncertainty at the position long term.

The Saints could also use their top two choices to bolster their nucleus. They had two first-round picks in 2017 and came away with foundational pieces in cornerback Marshon Lattimore and offensive tackle Ryan Ramczyk.

The Eagles are in position to draft a quarterback next year if they lose faith in Jalen Hurts, as they now own two first-rounders in 2023. That quarterback class is expected to feature Alabama's Bryce Young and Ohio State's C.J. Stroud, who would likely rank ahead of Kenny Pickett, Malik Willis, and the other top signal-callers in this year's group.

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