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John Sigler: The Saints have a history of trading up in the first round, and they’ve put themselves in a similar position again while needing more help along the defensive line and at wide receiver.
Dylan Sanders: We’ve identified two targets worth trading up for at the halfway point: defensive end Lukas Van Ness and wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba. Those are the only two who make sense given the options available.
John Sigler: Agreed, but how much are we willing to offer? I can’t justify trading another future first rounder.
Maddy Hudak: Me either — seems like large jump from 29 to 16.
Dylan Sanders: Packaging 29, this year’s fourth (115), and next year’s second (from the Broncos) would almost get us to pick 17.
John Sigler: I like last year’s Detroit-Minnesota trade. The Vikings traded their first- and second-round picks (12 and 46) to the Lions in exchange for first-, second-, and third-round picks (32, 34, and 66).
Ross Jackson: Oh yeah! The Kwesi Adofo-Mensah mess-around format.
Dylan Sanders: See, the thing is, the Saints normally are the ones losing the trade on the value chart, the Lions are winning in that scenario.
John Sigler: This is true. So do we start making trade offers targeting those two players or wait it out a few more picks?
Dylan Sanders: Let’s see what happens at 17.
John Sigler: Smart. Wait, the Steelers took Smith-Njigba at 17. How about this offer for a trade targeting Van Ness: Saints get 18 and 55, Lions get 29, 40, 115, and a 2024 fifth.
Ross Jackson: I’m low on Van Ness having no starts and all that. I think if he’s there at 29 sure, but trading up for him is a little much for me.
Dylan Sanders: The no-starts thing isn’t much for me just because an Iowa underclassmen thing. He had plenty of playing-time and was the best player on the team.
John Sigler: Yeah, he still averaged 36 snaps a game
Dylan Sanders, sarcastically: The Saints have never possibly reached or even traded up for a high potential maybe unproven edge rusher. I’m with it.
John Sigler: Trade was declined by Detroit. The Buccaneers didn’t pick up the phone at 19, the Seahawks are on the clock at 20 and Van Ness is still available.
Ross Jackson: Curious if we wants to do the Detroit-style trade for Seattle’s 20 and 52?
John Sigler: That was accepted. Van Ness is our pick.
New Orleans gets 20 and 52 (378 points)
Seattle gets 29, 40, and 71 (419 points)
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