New Orleans moved up from No. 116 to No. 105 in the fourth…
New Orleans moved up from No. 116 to No. 105 in the fourth round of the 2019 draft, sending the Jets picks No. 116 and No. 168. The Saints selected defensive back C.J. Gardner-Johnson, while New York quickly used the incoming capital in another trade with Tennessee. The New Orleans Saints produced the stronger realized return, supporting the New Orleans Saints Win verdict.
New Orleans Saints Received
- pick 2019 4th round pick (105th overall, C.J. Gardner-Johnson)
New York Jets Received
- pick 2019 4th round pick (116th overall subsequently traded, Amani Hooker )
- pick 2019 5th round pick (168th overall subsequently traded, D'Andre Walker )
Trade Analysis
What Changed Hands
New Orleans moved up from No. 116 to No. 105 in the fourth round of the 2019 draft, sending the Jets picks No. 116 and No. 168. The Saints selected defensive back C.J. Gardner-Johnson, while New York quickly used the incoming capital in another trade with Tennessee.
Why the Value Moved
Gardner-Johnson became one of the best Day 3 values in the class. He played extensively as a rookie, developed into a versatile slot defender and safety, and gave New Orleans three productive seasons before a later trade sent him to Philadelphia. The Jets' decision to trade down again produced additional picks, but none of the value from this particular step matched the impact Gardner-Johnson delivered.
How the Trade Aged
This is the upside case for spending an extra late pick to secure a specific prospect. New Orleans moved only eleven spots and added a fifth-round cost, but landed a defender capable of starting in multiple roles on a playoff roster. New York preserved and reworked draft capital, an understandable strategy, yet the downstream return never produced a player with comparable Saints-era impact.
Why This Trade Still Matters
Draft-day trades are best judged by the full path of the selections, not simply the first names attached to the pick numbers. Moving a few slots can create extra chances, but those chances matter only if the club converts them into useful players or additional capital. Here, the later player outcomes make the original choice to move up or down much easier to evaluate in hindsight.
Final Verdict
New Orleans wins clearly and earns an A. The Jets receive a C- because the trade-down maintained draft flexibility but passed on a high-impact defensive back whose production greatly exceeded the modest price paid to move up.