NFL Trade Rumors: New Orleans Saints Open to Trading in First Round of 2013 NFL draft

October 4, 2012; Salt Lake City, UT, USA; Utah Utes defensive tackle Star Lotulelei (92) celebrates a fumble recovery during the first quarter against the Southern California Trojans at Rice-Eccles Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Russ Isabella-USA TODAY Sports

It’s been long speculated that the New Orleans Saints would be willing to trade the No. 15 overall pick in the 2013 NFL draft as the team looks to acquire as much talent as possible.

That speculation is now a reality.

Saints General Manager Mickey Loomis held a press conference today and dropped some very interesting details about the possibility of a trade (per sunherald.com):

"“There’s a point where we don’t want to go too far, and the same thing with moving forward,” Loomis said Tuesday afternoon at a pre-draft press conference at the team’s headquarters.Loomis set his parameters at 10 spots ahead or behind the Saints’ No. 15 pick of the first round. The Saints lost their second round pick as punishment for their role in Bountygate, the pay-to-injure controversy The lack of the pick, though, has not made the Saints more eager than normal to shop their first-round pick, Loomis said."

While the Saints may not be more inclined to trade than they typically are, it appears the door is open and Loomis and Co. realize it is a smart move if another team presents the right offer.

If Loomis is willing to trade up or down 10 picks, the possibilities could be endless. If the Saints were to move up 10 spots, it would put them at the No. 5 overall pick and in a position to land big names such as Alabama cornerback Dee Milliner, Oregon linebacker Dion Jordan and Utah defensive tackle Star Lotulelei.

Of course, moving up would come at a drastic price, and the Saints are already without a second-round pick. If Loomis and Co. really want to move up and do, it’s clear they have one player in mind that they are willing to be the house on.

The safer bet is on the Saints moving down, if at all.

Moving down 10 spots would put the Saints at No. 25 overall and give the team a shot at pass-rushers such as North Carolina defensive tackle Sylvester Williams and Georgia linebacker Jarvis Jones, not to mention an added pick to add more depth.

The Saints have now publicly entered the realm of an NFL-draft day trade. The first round of the 2013 NFL draft just got that much more exciting if you are a Saints fan.

 
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