It’s, ah, a timely decision to brush up on the New Orleans Saints’ future draft picks right now. Houston Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson could make a decision at any moment on which team he’ll waive his no-trade clause for — whether that’s the Saints themselves or their heated rivals, the Atlanta Falcons. And one of those teams is going to give up a king’s ransom of draft picks and young starters for their new franchise quarterback.
New Orleans at least has picks to spare. They’ve only parted ways with three of their next 26 selections, stretching out from 2022 to 2025. NFL rules dictate that you can only deal out your picks in the next three draft cycles beyond the current year, which is why the Saints sent out the least-valuable asset possible late during the 2021 season for running back Mark Ingram II (a 2024 seventh rounder).
If the Saints are determined to win Watson over, and everything they’ve done over the last week suggests they are, despite the considerable baggage he brings with him, at least they will still have ample draft picks to fall back on. For now, here is when and where New Orleans expects to make its next draft selections:
