New Orleans Saints–Philadelphia Eagles Trade History

New Orleans acquired veteran safety Joe Scarpati and the 1971 tenth-round selection used on Rocky Pamplin for Norman Davis and Bo Burris. Scarpati immediately started 11 games for the Saints in 1970 and intercepted a pass, giving New Orleans useful short-term value from the veteran. Pamplin did not add meaningful NFL production, but Scarpati’s starting role gives the Saints the better realized return.

New Orleans acquired Richard Harvey from Philadelphia for Jim Ward. Harvey appeared only briefly for the Saints and did not become a significant long-term contributor, leaving New Orleans with little durable value from the exchange. Ward's results in Philadelphia were similarly limited, so neither side produced enough meaningful regular-season return to create a clear advantage.

New Orleans traded running back Tony Baker to Philadelphia on October 27, 1971 for the 1972 fourth-round pick that became linebacker Joe Federspiel. Federspiel became one of the most durable defenders in early Saints history, starting 111 games for New Orleans from 1972 through 1980. Baker gave Philadelphia 18 games and six starts across two seasons, making the long-term value overwhelmingly favor the Saints.

Philadelphia acquired linebacker Dick Absher from New Orleans on September 15, 1972 for the 1975 fourth-round choice later used on John Starkebaum at No. 92. Absher played eight games for the Eagles and recorded an interception. Starkebaum suffered a major knee injury in his first Saints training camp and never played an NFL regular-season game, giving Philadelphia the slight hindsight advantage.

New Orleans acquired return specialist Bobby Morse from Philadelphia on April 24, 1989 for an 11th-round pick in the 1990 draft. Morse played 27 games for the Saints and delivered a 99-yard kickoff-return touchdown in 1989. Philadelphia used the future pick, No. 294, on center John Hudson, who went on to play 67 games for the Eagles. Hudson's longer tenure gives Philadelphia a narrow win.

New Orleans sent the 99th pick to Philadelphia for veteran defensive tackle Hollis Thomas and No. 108, then used that fourth-round selection on guard Jahri Evans. Thomas became an immediate defensive-line contributor, while Evans started every game as a rookie and grew into a six-time Pro Bowler, four-time first-team All-Pro and Super Bowl XLIV champion. Philadelphia selected Max Jean-Gilles at No. 99, producing nowhere near the same value.

New Orleans moved Donte' Stallworth to Philadelphia on August 25, 2006 and received linebacker Mark Simoneau plus the 2007 fourth-round pick that became Jermon Bushrod. Simoneau started 29 games for the Saints across 2006 and 2007, while Bushrod developed into a long-term offensive tackle and two-time Pro Bowler. The two-piece return gave New Orleans both immediate and lasting value.

New Orleans traded a 2009 seventh-round pick and a 2010 fifth-rounder to Philadelphia for No. 164 and selected punter Thomas Morstead. Morstead spent 12 seasons with the Saints, earned Pro Bowl and second-team All-Pro honors, and became a central special-teams figure on the Super Bowl XLIV champion. Philadelphia retained useful draft capital, but nothing from the return approached Morstead's longevity and franchise impact.

Philadelphia acquired Darren Sproles for a fifth-round pick and received six seasons of multidimensional value. Sproles became an elite punt returner for the Eagles, contributed as a runner and receiver, and earned three Pro Bowl selections during his Philadelphia tenure. New Orleans used pick No. 169 on linebacker Ronald Powell, whose Saints career lasted only one season. The return gap makes this a clear Eagles win.

New Orleans acquired two 2022 first-round slots and used one on Trevor Penning, while Philadelphia received a future first, a future second, and additional selections. The 2023 first became the No. 10 pick that Philadelphia used in the move for Jalen Carter. The Eagles converted patience into premium, championship-level roster value.

Philadelphia acquired C.J. Gardner-Johnson and a seventh-round pick for fifth- and sixth-round selections. Gardner-Johnson tied for the league lead with six interceptions despite missing time and helped the Eagles reach Super Bowl LVII. New Orleans recovered limited draft value while surrendering a versatile defender at the start of his prime.