Exploring How the Saints Could Trade Up for Cam Ward

Yes, you see a ton of elite QBs on that list. What you don't see, is many that won SB's with the teams that gave the farm to get them within the 10 first pics in the draft.

Brady - 6th rounder, FA with the Bucs.
Brees - FA, no SB with Chargers, and was a 2nd rounder to begin with.
Warner - FA off the arena league
P. Manning - straight up 1st overall for the Colts, no trades, plus FA for the Broncos.
Rodgers - straight up 24th overall
Stafford - a correction here, I listed Stafford as FA, but he was part of a trade with the Rams; he was a well established, veteran NFL QB at the time, though.

Again, only 2 teams have won SBs with the QB they drafted within the 1st 10 picks. One is P. Manning, 1st overall, no trades; the other is Mahomes.

So, statistically speaking, it is better to not make the mistake of trading multiple picks (especially 1st rounders) for a QB who has not thrown a pass in the NFL.

I personally don't care about the "elite" label. I care about my team winning the SB. Elite, top 5, top grade... show me the trophy case.

You also don't see teams without a good QB on that list. Even Flacco and Foles who aren't elite had amazing runs to get to the Super Bowl with each winning Super Bowl MVP. You're simply not winning anything without a QB.

You're also not screwed if you trade up and fail. The 49ers gave up 3 first round picks and a 3rd to get Trey Lance. Completely whiffed and played in the Superbowl 2-3 years later.