New Orleans traded a 2009 seventh-round pick and a 2010…
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.
New Orleans Saints Received
- pick 2009 5th round pick (164th overall, Thomas Morstead )
Philadelphia Eagles Received
- pick 2009 7th round pick (222nd overall subsequently traded, Pat McAfee )
- pick 2010 5th round pick (163rd overall subsequently traded, Reshad Jones )
Trade Analysis
Why New Orleans Traded Up
The Saints wanted SMU punter Thomas Morstead badly enough to trade a 2009 seventh-round pick and a 2010 fifth-rounder to Philadelphia for No. 164. Trading two selections for a specialist was unusual, but New Orleans was building a contender and valued field position, kickoffs and punting enough to pay a premium relative to the position.
What Morstead Became
Morstead made the gamble look prescient. He spent 12 seasons with New Orleans, handled punting and kickoff duties early in his career and became one of the franchise's most durable specialists. He earned Pro Bowl and second-team All-Pro recognition and, as a rookie, executed the surprise onside kick that helped swing Super Bowl XLIV toward the Saints.
What Philadelphia Received
Philadelphia received No. 222 in 2009 and New Orleans' 2010 fifth-round choice, No. 163. Both selections were later moved in additional transactions rather than becoming direct long-term Eagles starters. The return still carried real value because two picks offered roster flexibility, but Philadelphia never created a player remotely comparable to Morstead from this exchange.
Why This Trade Still Matters
Specialists are often treated as replaceable, but Morstead was anything but disposable. New Orleans used meaningful draft capital on a punter and received more than a decade of stability, high-level performance and a direct championship moment. That combination turns an unconventional draft-day move into one of the clearest special-teams successes of the era.
Final Verdict
New Orleans Saints Win. The Saints earn an A+ because Morstead became a franchise fixture, an award-level punter and a Super Bowl champion. Philadelphia receives a C because the Eagles collected two legitimate assets, but the realized return never came close to matching Morstead's longevity, quality or historical importance.