How the Eagles can help themselves in the draft by beating Saints in Week 17

PHILADELPHIA — Sunday’s game between the Philadelphia Eagles and the New Orleans Saints is now in full swing thanks to a draft night deal last April that sent Philadelphia a 2023 first-round pick for New Orleans. It has a meaning that extends beyond the season.

That first-round pick has a 71% chance of being a top 10 pick, according to ESPN Analytics. Not only will this week’s results help shape the playoff picture, Philly could clinch his NFC No. 1 seed with a win, while the Saints upset would help maintain a slim playoff chance. increase. The Eagles are his 10th pick in ESPN’s current expected draft order.

Eagles coach Nick Ciriaani said the focus was just on the game, but added: Well it really helped us. “

In the trade, the Saints get the 2022 first-round picks (16th and 19th) and the 2022 sixth-round pick (194th), while the Eagles get the 2022 first-round pick (18th). ). , a 2023 first-round pick and a 2024 second-round pick, plus a 2022 third-round pick (101st) and seventh-round pick (237th).

The Eagles turned around, sending the 18th and 101st picks to the Tennessee Titans and acquiring standout receiver AJ Brown.

The Saints signed a contract with the Washington Commanders to move up from No. 16 to No. 11, selecting Ohio receiver Chris Olave and Northern Iowa offensive tackle Trevor Penning for No. 19 overall. rice field.

ESPN Saints reporter Katherine Terrell and Eagles reporter Tim McManus take a closer look at early returns and how the trade will affect each team’s draft plans for 2023.

Why did they make the deal in the first place?

Eagles: They had three first-round picks in the pre-trade draft and wanted to spread their wealth. There was some thought that those assets might be used to get a veteran quarterback, but nothing rocked what Jalen Hurts showed them in his first year as a starter. A happy front office was able to use some of their draft assets for players who could be of immediate help. For Brown – while setting himself well for the upcoming draft.

“I am thrilled with Jalen Hurts and I want him to support him and have a great career in Philadelphia. This year’s draft, but now it’s next year’s draft,” general manager Howie Roseman said. “We thought it made a lot of sense.”

saints: The Saints entered the offseason feeling like they had another chance in the playoffs, despite the resignation of former coach Sean Payton in January. The idea was that they could put the matter back in for another season, re-sign quarterback Jameis Winston, and make another run. Repeatedly said they keep about the same staff for years.

They made this move for two reasons. Pairing receivers with Michael his Thomas (who is particularly desperate for Olave) and Teron getting his tackle at future left in place of his Armstead. Moving from 18th he to 16th and he to 19th allowed them to move up again in another trade and get Olave. Being able to get Penning was just a bonus. It became clear that the Saints also needed a quarterback, but no one thought much of the class at the time because the quarterback wasn’t off the board until the Pittsburgh Steelers acquired Kenny Pickett. 2 rounds — 20:00.

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How did the trade results play out on each side?

eagles: A second Pro Bowl selection of the season, Brown helped take the Eagles’ offense to another level. Going into Week 17, he ranked fourth in receiving yards (1,304), second in receiving touchdowns (10), and with 80 receptions, he earned a new single-season franchise his mark. It’s a 9 catch that’s embarrassing.

His presence helped boost his close friend Hearts’ play, averaging 10.35 yards per attempt and 10 touchdowns to 2 interceptions when throwing in Brown’s direction. The Eagles moved up using the 237th overall pick acquired from the Saints as part of the package, acquiring linebacker/special teams contributor Kyron Johnson in the sixth round.

And now all eyes are on the 2023 first-round pick.

saints: Olave more than proved why the saints wanted him. He has 63 receptions for 940 yards and three touchdowns despite missing two games, and instead of playing alongside Thomas after missing most of the season, Penning’s development was slow, spending most of the season on the disabled list and now gaining more playing time each week.

The problem is, neither contributed to the Saints’ (6-9) winning record. This shows that the Saints need to fill several other holes, including quarterbacks. That makes the loss of a first-round pick even more painful, and the Saints’ other trades with the Eagles in the preseason will probably only make things a little more painful.New Orleans sent his defensive back C.J. Gardner-Johnson. rice field. CJ Gardner-Johnson has tied for the NFL lead with six interceptions this season, sending his 2025 seventh-round pick to Philadelphia, and his 2023 fifth-round pick and his NBA record. ‘s 2024 sixth-round pick.

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How will trading affect future drafts?

eagles: Philadelphia, projected to hold the top 10 picks in a quarterback-rich draft class, could find themselves in a highly leveraged situation. There may be multiple teams looking to trade into the top 10 for future signalers. In that case, the Eagles can get a fair amount in return if they decide to trade out.The other option is to sit still and grab the best available player. While always top of the organization’s priority list, the defensive backfield will need to keep an eye on cornerbacks James Bradbury and Gardner Johnson as they plan to become free agents after the season ends.

Roseman has made it a habit lately to push assets into future drafts, and that could be on the cards here as well. He already has an extra second round in 2024 as a result of a pick swap with the Saints.

saints: This is one of the worst years the Saints have missed a first-round pick given the lack of a long-term solution at quarterback. Winston struggled until he was sidelined with an injury before being replaced by 35-year-old Andy Dalton. Dalton remained a starter after Winston returned from injury, but Dalton was signed on a one-year deal in the offseason. The salary cap problem is also lingering, leaving little money to find long-term solutions. This makes the quarterback position a big unanswered question, and unless another team gives up a first-round pick for the right to hire Payton in the offseason, they won’t be solving that problem any time soon. You may have a hard time with

Both Olave and Penning could be important parts of the team in the years to come, but it doesn’t matter so much if they can’t find a quarterback and fix other issues with the defensive aging roster. Don’t be side.