New Orleans traded picks No. 78 and 112 to New England for…
New Orleans traded picks No. 78 and 112 to New England for No. 61 and selected safety Vonn Bell. Bell immediately became a major defensive contributor, appearing in 61 games with 45 starts over four Saints seasons. The move worked. It simply ran into an exceptional Patriots return, because New England turned the two selections into Joe Thuney and Malcolm Mitchell.
New England Patriots Received
- pick 2016 3rd round pick (78th overall, Joe Thuney )
- pick 2016 4th round pick (112th overall, Malcolm Mitchell)
New Orleans Saints Received
- pick 2016 2nd round pick (61st overall, Vonn Bell )
Trade Analysis
What Changed Hands
New Orleans moved up from the third and fourth rounds to pick No. 61 in the 2016 draft, sending New England selections No. 78 and 112. The Saints chose Ohio State safety Vonn Bell. The Patriots used No. 78 on guard Joe Thuney and No. 112 on wide receiver Malcolm Mitchell.
Why New Orleans Still Did Well
Bell was not a miss. He played all 16 games as a rookie, started 14, and became a regular part of the Saints secondary. Across four New Orleans seasons he appeared in 61 games and started 45, contributing as a tackler, blitzer and versatile safety. Trading two mid-round selections for a player who became an immediate multiyear starter is a defensible use of capital and earns New Orleans a strong grade.
How New England Created More Value
Thuney changes the historical balance. He started all 80 regular-season games of his five-year Patriots tenure and every postseason game available to him, anchoring an offensive line that helped win multiple championships. Mitchell's career was shortened by injuries, but his rookie season still mattered, including a productive Super Bowl LI performance. New England received a durable premium starter plus a short-term championship contributor from the two picks.
Final Verdict
The Saints should feel good about Bell; this was not a failed trade-up. The Patriots simply did better. Turning one second-round slot into five full seasons of Joe Thuney and an important rookie year from Malcolm Mitchell is an outstanding draft-day return. New Orleans gets a B+, while New England earns an A+. New England Patriots Win.