The NFL world was rocked by the New Orleans Saints’ big trade with the Philadelphia Eagles to acquire another pick in the first round of the 2022 NFL draft, if nothing else for the timing — why make that move weeks before the event, when you don’t even know which prospects could be available?

Well, the way Saints general manager Mickey Loomis tells it, this wasn’t even his idea. But the chance to spend a future draft pick in a year when New Orleans feels they can win a lot of games and make some noise. If they can find two starters in the first round, they’ll be right back in the mix.

“For us, it’s an opportunity to get another good player a year ahead of time for a value that we like,” Loomis said during a Wednesday press conference, adding that “There’s a group of players that we like who we think are going to be available.”

It’s tough to argue with that plan, a strategy which Loomis has spoken about before. The Saints play in a weak division with two franchises in shambles (the Atlanta Falcons and Carolina Panthers) and a third rival they’ve beaten the snot out of (Tom Brady’s Tampa Bay Buccaneers, of course) at every turn. The NFC as a whole is wide-open after a mass exodus of talent moved to the AFC in free agency.

At the same time, the day before the draft is the peak of Lying Season in the NFL. Loomis and the Saints could very well be working the phones to trade both of their first-round picks in a bold move up the draft board, moving deep into the top 10 selections for an elite prospect. There doesn’t appear to be a franchise quarterback in this year’s draft, but if the Saints believe in one to such a degree that’s what they may need to spend to acquire them.

Either way, it does put more pressure on Loomis and Jeff Ireland, his assistant general manager and college scouting director, to nail both of these picks. They can’t afford to burn a premium pick on another backup (like Payton Turner) or a player who must change positions just to get on the field (like Cesar Ruiz). With obvious needs at wide receiver, left tackle, and safety, the Saints should be well-positioned to go get some upgrades. But you can never say never with this team.

List

12 players we love for the Saints in the first round of 2022 draft