Massive, bizarre Eagles-Saints trade from 2022 NFL Draft finalized with 2024 pick

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The Philadelphia Eagles have used the final pick from their 2022 NFL Draft trade with the New Orleans Saints.

A massive NFL Draft trade from two years ago is finally complete.

The Philadelphia Eagles’ road to the 2022 Super Bowl arguably began in 2021, when they gained an extra first-round pick courtesy of a trade with the Miami Dolphins. Philadelphia moved down from No. 6 (where Miami chose Jaylen Waddle) to No. 12, then moved up to No. 10 in a separate deal with the Dallas Cowboys to take DeVonta Smith.

With a pair of 2022 first-round picks in his pocket, Eagles general manager Howie Roseman pulled off a major swap that eventually led to the Eagles landing one of the game’s best receivers in a separate trade.

The Trade Terms

The New Orleans Saints received

2022 NFL Draft, pick 16
2022 NFL Draft, pick 19

The Philadelphia Eagles received

2022 NFL Draft, pick 18
2022 NFL Draft, third-round pick No. 101
2022 NFL Draft, seventh-round pick No. 237
A 2023 first-round pick (No. 10)
A 2024 second-round pick (No. 50)

What the Eagles did with their picks

A.J. Brown
Roseman’s blockbuster trade with New Orleans led to a blockbuster trade with the Tennessee Titans, who sent wide receiver A.J. Brown to Philly for the acquired No. 18 and No. 101 picks. Brown ranks 9th in the NFL in receptions, 3rd in receiving yards, and 6th in receiving touchdowns since joining the Eagles. Brown just agreed to a three-year, $96 million extension that will put him under contract through 2029.

The Titans, incidentally, used the No. 18 pick to select Treylon Burks as their Brown replacement. Burks does not yet have 50 career catches.

Kyren Johnson
The Eagles traded their sixth-round pick and the Saints’ seventh-rounder to the Detroit Lions to move up seven spots to No. 181. Kansas linebacker Kyren Johnson was limited almost exclusively to special teams as a rookie and was released in the middle of 2023. Johnson is currently with the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Jalen Carter
New Orleans’ 7-10 season gave the then-NFC champion Eagles the No. 10 overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft. Philadelphia swapped No. 10 and No. 9 with the Chicago Bears (giving up a 2024 fourth-round pick in the process) to take ex-Georgia defensive tackle Jalen Carter. One of the few bright spots on an incredibly disappointing Eagles defense, Carter finished second in Defensive Rookie of the Year voting behind Will Anderson Jr.

Cooper DeJean
The Eagles used the Saints’ second-rounder (number 50), their native second-round pick (No. 53), and a fifth-rounder to move up to No. 40 overall for Iowa cornerback Cooper DeJean. He was one of several projected first-round defenders who slid down in the draft order after a historic run on offensive players. Considered the most versatile defensive back in this year’s class with the potential to convert to safety, DeJean will be part of a revamped Philadelphia secondary that already includes 2024 first-round cornerback Quinyon Mitchell. DeJean could also be a factor on special teams as a punt returner.

What the Saints did with their picks

Chris Olave
New Orleans used the higher Eagles first-rounder (along with third- and fourth-round selections) to move up to No. 11 in the draft in a trade with the Washington Commanders. Former Ohio State star receiver Chris Olave has been as good as advertised, catching 159 passes for 2,165 yards and 9 touchdowns. Only ex-Buckeyes teammate Garrett Wilson has more receptions among 2022 draftees, while Olave is tops in his class in yards and first downs gained.

Trevor Penning
The Saints kept the Eagles’ other first-round pick (19 overall) and selected Northern Iowa tackle Trevor Penning, who hasn’t panned out as the would-be successor to Terron Armstead. He only played one game as a rookie after tearing a ligament in his foot, spent much of the 2023 offseason rehabilitating a Lisfranc fracture, and was benched for poor performance in his second season. Penning is trending dangerously close to “bust” status.

At the time, former Eagles president Joe Banner believed that Philadelphia won the trade in a landslide.

“One of the most lopsided trades we have seen in a long time,” tweeted Banner. “The 1,2 & 3 saints gave up for 16 was enough that they could’ve used it to trade for almost any nfl star player not a QB and had picks left over. Instead they got a mid first round pick. Crazy.”

When using the trade value chart modeled by Pats Pulpit’s Rich Hill, it looked like an even trade.

Of course, the picks are only half the story. Now that all of the picks have been made, we have a clear picture on how both teams have fared. In a few years when the young players’ careers have been more fully established, we can look back with an even keener eye.