The 2022 NFL draft is rapidly approaching, and the New Orleans Saints have already made moves to garner excitement. Their trade with the Philadelphia Eagles put picks Nos. 16 and 19 in hand and indicates head coach Dennis Allen isn’t taking his foot off the gas. While known for their aggressiveness in trading up, rarely is it set in stone weeks prior. What’s curious is exactly how they’ll use those picks: select two starters, or chess pieces to trade up.
And they’re well-prepared for it. The Saints currently hold seven draft picks as they look to reload at several roles — with three selections in the top 50. Key positions to watch are left tackle, wide receiver, and quarterback. But safety and defensive tackle shouldn’t be discounted as early round targets.
There’s a sense of intrigue fans haven’t had in years with these premium picks and a new head coach. You can tune in to ESPN, ABC, and NFL Network when the draft starts on Thursday, April 28 from Las Vegas, Nev. Here’s the full schedule of the event: