Tag: swap

Trade details on Saints’ deal with Packers to pick CB Kool-Aid McKinstry

Trade details on Saints’ deal with Packers to pick CB Kool-Aid McKinstry

The New Orleans Saints made a big move in the 2024 NFL draft, cutting a deal with the Green Bay Packers so they could trade up in Round 2 and pick Alabama cornerback Kool-Aid McKinstry. But what did it cost them?

Green Bay sent the No. 41 pick to New Orleans that they originally got from the New York Jets in a trade for Aaron Rodgers last year. In exchange for that, the Saints sent their second rounder at No. 45 as well as two Day 3 picks: a fifth-round selection at No. 168 and a sixth rounder at No. 190.

Let’s lay it out a little more cleanly:

  • Saints get: No. 41 (Round 2)
  • Packers get: No. 45 (Round 2), No. 168 (Round 5), and No. 190 (Round 6)

That seems like a lot, but the Saints still own five picks in the last three rounds: three in Round 5 and one each in Rounds 6 and 7. So we can’t rule out more moves as the draft continues. We’re guessing the Saints won’t sit still between picks 41 and 150.

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Here’s what Xavier McKinney will look like in his new No. 29 Packers uniform

A mockup of what Xavier McKinney will look like in his new No. 29 Packers uniform.

Safety Xavier McKinney, who left the New York Giants to sign a four-year deal with the Green Bay Packers in free agency, is keeping his No. 29 uniform with new team. McKinney wore the No. 15 at Alabama, but 15 is retired in Green Bay for Hall of Fame quarterback Bart Starr. McKinney wore No. 29 during all four of his seasons in New York and will continue wearing the number in Green Bay.

Here’s a mockup of what McKinney will look like in his No. 29 Packers uniform:

McKinney was a second-round pick of the Giants in the 2020 draft. Over 49 career games, McKinney produced nine interceptions, 27 passes defensed, two forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries, 1.5 sacks and 279 tackles (six for loss). He joins the Packers after being graded as the No. 4 overall safety in the NFL last season. Based on fit and his tape, McKinney looks like the ideal post safety for new defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley in Green Bay.

Here’s what Josh Jacobs will look like in his new No. 8 Packers uniform

Here’s what new Packers running back Josh Jacobs will look like in his green and gold No. 8 uniform.

New Green Bay Packers running back Josh Jacobs, who signed a four-year deal to join Matt LaFleur and Jordan Love in free agency, will wear the No. 8 uniform with his new team. Backup quarterback Sean Clifford, who wore the number as a rookie last year, switched to No. 6 to accommodate Jacobs’ arrival.

Jacobs previously wore No. 8 in high school, in college at Alabama and last year with the Las Vegas Raiders. Now he’ll rock the single digit in the green and gold in Green Bay.

Here’s a mockup of what Jacobs will look like in his No. 8 Packers uniform:

Jacobs, a first-round pick of the Raiders in 2019, was the NFL’s rushing champion in 2022. The two-time Pro Bowler has 5,545 career rushing yards and 46 career touchdowns over five NFL seasons. In Green Bay, he’ll be the replacement for Aaron Jones, the franchise’s third all-time leading rusher.

Watch: Eagles’ Jason Kelce swaps jersey for Doug Pederson’s jacket

Eagles C Jason Kelce wanted to show love to his former head coach after the game Sunday.

Jersey swaps between opposing players are a pretty common sight after an NFL game. But what happens when a player wants to show love to an opposing coach?

After the Philadelphia Eagles got a 29-21 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday, center Jason Kelce offered his jersey to his former coach, Doug Pederson. The Jaguars head coach gave back the only thing he had: his rain jacket.

Pederson spent five seasons as head coach of the Eagles, leading the team to a Super Bowl victory in February 2018. On Sunday, he received a standing ovation from the Philadelphia crowd when he led the Jaguars on to the field.

After the loss, Pederson called the reception from Eagles fans “special.”

Last year, Kelce bothered Jaguars fans when he took a shot at the city for not caring about the team the way Philadelphia fans care about the Eagles. After a slow start Sunday that saw the Jaguars jump out to a 14-0 lead, the Eagles pulled away with 29 straight points.

Based on the way the Jaguars played in the rain Sunday, Pederson probably doesn’t want to be wearing a rain jacket again any time soon.

Number change! New Packers WR Christian Watson will actually wear No. 9

Instead of wearing No. 82, new Packers WR Christian Watson will be No. 9 as a rookie in 2022.

After initially picking No. 82, new Green Bay Packers wide receiver Christian Watson has changed his mind and will actually wear No. 9 as a rookie. The team announced the swap on Saturday.

Linebacker Jaylon Smith wore No. 9 for a short time last season. The number has been primarily worn by punters and backup quarterbacks over the history of the Packers franchise.

Watson wore No. 1 during all five years at North Dakota, but the number is unofficially retired in Green Bay for Curly Lambeau.

The Packers traded up in the second round to get Watson at No. 34 overall. He’ll get a chance to write a new history for the No. 9 uniform in Green Bay.

Watson joins first-round pick Quay Walker as rookies that will wear single-digit numbers for the Packers.

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Report: Emmanuel Sanders, Chris Godwin plan postgame jersey swap

New Orleans Saints wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders and Tampa Bay Buccaneers wideout Chris Godwin planned a postgame jersey swap, ESPN reports

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The NFL has banned typical postgame jersey swaps between players from opposing teams as an unnecessary risk during the COVID-19 pandemic, but plans are still being made for respect to be shown among peers. Tide has stepped in to sponsor these exchanges by handling the cleaning and shipping costs, and ESPN’s Jenna Laine reports that New Orleans Saints wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders will be participating in the program. He’ll be swapping jerseys with one of his Tampa Bay Buccaneers counterparts, Chris Godwin.

Sanders joined the Saints on a two-year free agent contract early this summer, while Godwin is a 24-year old entering the final year of his rookie contract. Godwin broke out with a Pro Bowl season in 2019, catching 86 of 121 targets to gain 1,333 yards and score 9 touchdown receptions (leading Tampa Bay in each stat). He’s a rising star in the league, and it’s great to see Sanders recognizing him.

At the same time, it’s a sign of respect for what Sanders has accomplished. Despite being stuck with a series of bad quarterbacks ranging from Trevor Siemian and Paxton Lynch to Jimmy Garoppolo and Brock Osweiler, Sanders has still averaged more than 50 yards per game each year he’s played (except for 2017, when he missed time with an injury). He’s a two-time Pro Bowler himself, a Super Bowl champion, and the best No. 2 receiver the Saints have paired with Michael Thomas since Brandin Cooks talked his way out of town.

Here’s hoping Sanders’ Saints get the better of Godwin’s Bucs on Sunday.

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