The vast majority of Paton’s trades have come on Day 2 of the draft, as he made a pair of trades during the third round in 2022 and a second- and two third-round trades in his first draft.
Payton, meanwhile, made the most trades across the third and fourth rounds. During his tenure in New Orleans, the Saints made 11 draft-day trades during those two rounds — and another four apiece in the first, second and fifth rounds.
First round: Payton – 4
Second round: Payton – 4, Paton – 1
Third round: Payton – 5, Paton – 4
Fourth round: Payton – 6
Fifth round: Payton – 4, Paton – 1
Sixth round: Payton – 1
Seventh round: Payton – 2
Both Paton and Payton have more frequently traded with teams outside of their conference — but the edge is far from overwhelming.
Paton’s trades lean 4-2 in favor of the NFC, while Payton’s swaps are a 14-12 split in favor of the AFC.
What has held true is that neither Paton nor Payton has made a draft-day trade with a division rival.
Interestingly, one of Payton’s final trades with the Saints came when the Broncos and Saints swapped picks. Denver received the 98th- and 105th-overall picks in 2021 in exchange for the 76th-overall pick.
Three trades: Payton with Patriots
Two trades: Payton with Commanders, Texans, Packers, Lions, Jets, Eagles, Dolphins, Cardinals and Browns
One trade: Payton with Vikings, Jaguars, Colts, Broncos and 49ers; Paton with Texans, Colts, Packers, Falcons, Giants, Saints
The Broncos have yet to make a draft-day trade under Paton that involves a player, though they came close in 2021 when they acquired Teddy Bridgewater the day before the draft.
New Orleans, meanwhile, made three swaps including a player during Payton’s tenure. In 2013, the Saints traded running back Chris Ivory to the Jets for a fourth-round pick. During Payton’s first year in New Orleans, the Saints traded back twice and acquired Jeff Faine and Hollis Thomas from the Browns and Eagles, respectively.
The truth is, we cannot be sure — and that’s…
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