Saints met with top QB prospect Cam Ward [Schefter: CLE, NYG or maybe Saints have to make an offer compelling enough for #1 pick]

Hedon James said
True. Offering additional support to your statement(s). There seem to be a few fans on here that believe Loomis inquiring about the #1 overall pick is evidence of something below the surface. Which MAY turn out to be true. But the fact is....Loomis inquires about the #1 overall pick quite often. If the #1 ain't for sale, he inquires about #2, or #3, until he gets a basis for the cost of the jump. Doesn't matter if we select #9, or #29. It seems to be part of how he sets up his value chart.

Although, one of these days, those folks thinking Loomis gonna pay to jump to #1 overall are likely to be correct.....SOME DAY!

Every team does. Every single team in the NFL inquiries about another's pick, from #1 all the way to #32. From there it comes a bit more selective to inquire about 2nd round picks to gauge cost and interest, and 3rd round, and 4th and so on.

This is how the league forms a cost base of trade value, and it changes from draft to draft despite what many believe.

This is done after they receive an iteration report from scouts on how many players with a first round grade, second round grade, etc..

This year there are about 12 players in this draft with a first round grade. Out of those 12 players there are only 4 or 5 with a top 10 grade. Most assuredly, those 4 or 5 player's will be picked before the Saints @9 which leaves a discrepancy of player value vs top 10 draft pick value which is why the odds of Saints trading back is not good unless the Saints are willing to take lower compensation then years average for #9 pick.