You are GM, do you trade up or down in draft?

Depends on the make up of your team... If you don't have a bunch of open roster spots for potential starters and/or primary role players... You trade up for quality... Because half the draft picks are likely not to stick around long... If you have an old and terrible roster with scattered aging vets on the way out (You probably suck)... You trade down and stock picks... It's obvious where Loomis thinks we've been for quite a long time.

I think too many people here value draft pick quantity over quality... What good is it to draft a bunch of Jordan Jackson's - Ian Books - Tommy Stevens - Saquan Hamptons - Alize Macks - Boston Scotts - Al-Quadin Muhammads - etc when for the most part they never end up on your team...

The guys you trade up for - are almost always are on your team and contribute long term.

And that's why the Saints have been one of the best drafting teams in the NFL since ML took over as GM... They trade up for premium players that will make impacts and they have a long term vision for, and don't trade down and play "let's see what sticks".