New Orleans Saints traded up to No. 11, receiving legion support by picking Chris Olaf of Ohio State

Metairie, Los Angeles – The New Orleans Saints, fittingly, became the first team to be replaced this year. NFL Project Going from No. 16 to No. 11 to select an Ohio-wide receiver Chris Olaf Thursday.

The Washington Leaders received a third-round (No. 98) and fourth-round (No. 120) selection while they were down five places. The Saints have now traded a staggering 24 times in the past 16 draft, including their move earlier this month to get the 16th pick from the Philadelphia Eagles. New Orleans also placed 19th in the first round.

Meanwhile, the Saints have not been in circulation since 2007.

“For us, it’s an opportunity to get another good player a year ahead of schedule,” Saints general manager Micky Loomis said of the trade during a previous press conference.

The receivers were in desperate need of the Saints after they finished 32nd in the NFL in a passing offense last year. Much of it was because of the receiver Michael Thomas He missed the entire season due to an ankle and mid-back injury James Winston He tore his ACL at week 8. However, they needed to add at least one specialty pass practitioner – and they became fierce in doing so.

Olaf (6 feet, 187 pounds) had 65 passes for 936 yards and 13 touchdowns in 2021 — and has earned 32 passes from TD during his last 33 college games.

The Saints insisted they have no plans to rebuild under new coach Dennis Allen and that they expect to have another playoff after narrowly losing 9-8 during last year’s injury season. At the same time, they demonstrated rare self-control in their free agent spending after the unofficial season kicked off at nearly $75 million above the salary cap. Having two first-round picks this year allows them to add influential players at an affordable price.

While Washington really liked Olave, it was a relief to recycle the choice of the Pennsylvania receiver Jahan Dotson. He said he was watching the NBA game between Phoenix and New Orleans on his phone when he got a call from Washington coach Ron Rivera. Dotson said he was surprised to go 16th overall.

“We were thinking later first or early,” Dotson said.

But Washington has always loved Dotson, always putting him in the top four in the first round.

ESPN’s John Kim contributed to this report.