New Orleans sent star linebacker Pat Swilling to Detroit for…
New Orleans sent star linebacker Pat Swilling to Detroit for the eighth and 89th picks in the 1993 draft. The Saints selected Willie Roaf at No. 8 and Lorenzo Neal at No. 89. Roaf became a Hall of Fame left tackle and one of the greatest players in franchise history, while Swilling's Detroit stay was short. New Orleans turned one veteran into two exceptional long-term NFL talents.
Detroit Lions Received
- player Pat Swilling
New Orleans Saints Received
- pick 1993 first round pick (#8-William Roaf / Willie Roaf)
- pick 1993 fourth round pick (#89-Lorenzo Neal (LaVonne))
Trade Analysis
The Saints made a bold decision in 1993 by trading Pat Swilling, one of the stars of their Dome Patrol defense, to Detroit. New Orleans received the eighth overall selection and pick No. 89. The Lions acquired a proven pass rusher who had already won Defensive Player of the Year honors. For a contender seeking immediate defense, Detroit's logic was understandable; the Saints were choosing draft capital and a younger roster over retaining an established star.
New Orleans used No. 8 on Louisiana Tech tackle Willie Roaf. That selection alone would have been enough to swing the deal. Roaf became a cornerstone left tackle, spent nine seasons with the Saints, earned repeated All-Pro and Pro Bowl honors and was later inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. He started 131 games for New Orleans and became one of the signature offensive players in franchise history.
The Saints also used No. 89 on fullback Lorenzo Neal. Neal's greatest recognition came later with other teams, but he still added value to the original return and went on to play 239 NFL games, earn four Pro Bowl selections and become one of the era's premier fullbacks. Detroit, meanwhile, did not receive a comparable multi-year foundation from Swilling. He remained productive but his Lions tenure was far shorter than the careers produced by the picks.
That is why New Orleans earns an A-plus and the decisive verdict. The Saints sold a veteran star at a moment when his market value was high and converted the return into a Hall of Fame tackle plus another player with exceptional longevity. Detroit's D does not mean Swilling lacked ability; it reflects how much franchise-changing value left Detroit's control in exchange for a relatively brief veteran return.