Do you think we'll continue being aggressive in the draft now? (3 Viewers)

[RJ in Lafayette]

TribuneUK, I have always acknowledged that we obtained a second first-round pick in the trade with Philadelphia. The argument that I have always made was the price we paid for obtaining that second first-round pick was much too high, which as a matter of logic acknowledges that we received a second first-round pick in 2022.

My argument then and now was that the likelihood was high that we could have traded up to 11 to pick Olave even if we had not made the prior trade with Philadelphia. Obviously, without the trade with Philadelphia, we would not have had a second first-round pick in 2022. I have no issue if anyone believes that the price we paid to obtain a second first-round pick was reasonable; that the Philadelphia trade was a good one; or that without the Philadelphia trade, the Saints could not have traded up to 11 to pick Olave. If others have those opinions, so be it, and we need to agree to disagree. But especially given the number of times I have stated or clarified my position, you may wish to reconsider in the future representing that I did not consider that we received a second first-round pick in the Eagles trade--for Pete's sake, it was the obvious and stated purpose for the trade.

For those interested in my argument, which was made at length, and the responses of those who disagreed, such as TrubuneUK, see the thread I started on 12.14.22 titled "The Myth That the Philadelphia Trade Was Necessary for Olave."

 

[Slidell Mike]

I can see an occasional trade up or trade down given in any given draft given particular needs and scouting insight into draft depth and available options. Loomis/Payton and now Loomis/DA exhibit an abnormally high level of arrogance in repeatedly trading up for a particular player. There have been some hits but several misses and has put more pressure on our scouting department which has usually been quite good at identifying under-the-radar talent. Still, giving up these mid-round picks has been robbing our team of depth and mortgaging the future.

I can see DA maybe having a short-sighted view, but Loomis (it appears) is in no danger of losing his position. He should have a longer term view, but, instead seems to cater to whatever his coach wants. He did this with Payton of course, but also don't forget that he catered to Haslett's wishes too with the disastrous Jonathan Sullivan trade.

 

[TribuneUK]

TribuneUK, I have always acknowledged that we obtained a second first-round pick in the trade with Philadelphia. The argument that I have always made was the price we paid for obtaining that second first-round pick was much too high, which as a matter of logic acknowledges that we received a second first-round pick in 2022.

My argument then and now was that the likelihood was high that we could have traded up to 11 to pick Olave even if we had not made the prior trade with Philadelphia. Obviously, without the trade with Philadelphia, we would not have had a second first-round pick in 2022. I have no issue if anyone believes that the price we paid to obtain a second first-round pick was reasonable; that the Philadelphia trade was a good one; or that without the Philadelphia trade, the Saints could not have traded up to 11 to pick Olave. If others have those opinions, so be it, and we need to agree to disagree. But especially given the number of times I have stated or clarified my position, you may wish to reconsider in the future representing that I did not consider that we received a second first-round pick in the Eagles trade--for Pete's sake, it was the obvious and stated purpose for the trade.

For those interested in my argument, which was made at length, and the responses of those who disagreed, such as TrubuneUK, see the thread I started on 12.14.22 titled "The Myth That the Philadelphia Trade Was Necessary for Olave."

I appreciate your clarification. Clearly either my memory is failing or I made numerous posts in reply to yours, repeatedly pointing out that trading up from our original position to select Olave was not the only consideration in play.

Perhaps it was an earlier topic than the thread you mention?

 

[AARPSaint]

Last year, given the winning record from the previous season, trading up for Olave and Penning seemed like a good decision. Circumstances differ now. The team regressed significantly. The cap situation engendered by bloated contracts is not good. It's time to keep the draft picks and try to replicate the 2017 draft class 's quality. Stop trading up!

 

[sfidc3]

Aggressive how exactly? You mean trading future picks for a number 1 in this draft? While I still like Jeff Ireland, I don't necessarily want to mortgage the future with an incompetent coaching staff....I think, long term, desperate measures are not the way to go right now.....

 

[RJ in Lafayette]

Thanks, TribuneUK. We're cool.

 

[SuperSaint]

If by 'aggressive', you mean sacrificing picks to move up, I hope not. I've always hated that policy.

 

[Trey W.]

Given our needs and cap issues, if a player they truly love isn’t there when we pick it’s time to start trading down and getting more picks. We need players on cheap contracts so we can hopefully get out of this cap hell Loomis has dug is into. It’s time to stop pushing dead money to bogus years.

 

[HouseCall]

I personally don’t think so. Especially since Loomis said the goal is to work the cap back to somewhere in the middle. That means letting a lot of guys who would otherwise get a big payday walk. When that happens you have to fill your roster with young and inexpensive players. That’s harder to do when you trade all your picks away.

 

[SigFreudianSlip]

That's the positive view. The flip side is you got a No. 2 WR that can't catch in traffic and an OL that has had two major foot injuries in his first season. Truth is in the middle.

Those foot injuries worry me as Penning is such a big guy.

 

[SigFreudianSlip]

No, because this is Allen’s sink or swim year. The division is weak and this could be seen as a “retool” year.

Assess, tweak, change, subtract, add…make another run at it. Use this draft to build up the middle class of this roster.

Do not however sacrifice the clean slate 2024 presents. Full load of draft capital, cleaner salary cap, and if Allen doesn’t do well in 2023 the opportunity to reset w/ a new QB, HC, and staff

If Allen does do well, you can perhaps open a Window for future playoff runs.

We traded our 24 second. Perhaps we will get it back in a Payton trade.

 

[Geldo]

Everyone moaning about trading up in the draft now....
Everyone suggesting trade ups in endless posts weeks before the draft then....

 

[ELLIASJWILLIAMS]

We traded our 24 second. Perhaps we will get it back in a Payton trade.

Damnit, they’ll find a way to have 3 picks in top 100, guarantee

 

[SigFreudianSlip]

Damnit, they’ll find a way to have 3 picks in top 100, guarantee

I hope you’re right.