New Orleans paid an enormous package to move from picks 17…
New Orleans paid an enormous package to move from picks 17 and 18 to No. 6 in 2003, also exchanging second- and fourth-round value with Arizona. The Saints selected defensive tackle Johnathan Sullivan, while Arizona's return produced Bryant Johnson, Calvin Pace and Anquan Boldin. Sullivan became a major first-round disappointment and Boldin became a franchise star, creating one of the widest draft-trade gaps of the era.
Arizona Cardinals Received
- pick 2003 1st round pick (17th overall, Bryant Johnson), 2003 1st round pick (18th overall, Calvin Pace ) and 2003 2nd round pick (54th overall, Anquan Boldin )
New Orleans Saints Received
- pick 2003 1st round pick (6th overall, Johnathan Sullivan ), 2003 2nd round pick (37th overall, Jon Stinchcomb) and 2003 4th round pick (102nd overall, Montrae Holland)
Trade Analysis
New Orleans made the kind of aggressive draft move that demands a premium player. The Saints sent Arizona the 17th and 18th selections plus No. 54, receiving No. 6, No. 37 and No. 102. They used the sixth pick on Georgia defensive tackle Johnathan Sullivan, believing he could become an interior difference-maker. The later acquired picks became tackle Jon Stinchcomb and guard Montrae Holland.
Sullivan never came close to justifying the move. He started only a handful of games for New Orleans, struggled with conditioning and consistency, and was traded away after three seasons. Stinchcomb salvaged some value by becoming a multi-year starter and later starting on the Saints' Super Bowl championship offensive line, but the entire package still fell far short of what Arizona received.
The Cardinals used the two first-rounders on Bryant Johnson and Calvin Pace and selected Anquan Boldin at No. 54. Johnson became a useful receiver, Pace developed into a long-term NFL starter and productive pass rusher, and Boldin immediately became one of the best receivers in football. Boldin caught 101 passes for 1,377 yards as a rookie, made three Pro Bowls with Arizona and eventually finished his career with more than 13,000 receiving yards. Landing Boldin alone would have created a painful comparison with Sullivan; adding Johnson and Pace makes the separation extreme.
The Saints deserve a small amount of credit because Stinchcomb ultimately contributed meaningful starting value, including during the franchise's championship season. That does not rescue the transaction. New Orleans surrendered two first-round opportunities to move up for the wrong player, while Arizona converted the move down into three substantial NFL careers. The Cardinals receive an A-plus for multiplying the sixth pick into depth and star power. The Saints receive an F because the centerpiece failed and the opportunity cost was enormous.