Eagles could have top-5 pick from Saints in 2023 NFL Draft
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- At 11-1, the Eagles have the best record in the NFL. They sit in first place in the NFC East and own the No. 1 seed in the conference, which would give them a bye in the first round of the playoffs and home-field advantage.
With the Dallas Cowboys at 9-3 behind the Eagles, the matchup on Christmas Eve in Week 16 could have huge implications on playoff seeding.
With all that said, what if I told you that the Eagles also might have a top five pick in next year's NFL draft? Yes, that's right.
Thanks to a trade with the New Orleans Saints ahead of the 2022 NFL draft, the Eagles are on pace to have a pick in the top five or 10 in the 2023 NFL draft – a premium asset they could use in several different ways.
Many thought, including myself, that they might've been able to package two of their first-round picks in a trade to select a quarterback, but that's not happening anymore with Jalen Hurts playing like an MVP this season.
As of right now, the Saints currently hold the fifth pick in the 2023 NFL draft. They sit at 4-9 and have the 17th hardest remaining schedule this season, according to Tankathon.
Here's a look at the Saints' remaining opponents:
- Week 15: Atlanta Falcons
- Week 16: at Cleveland Browns
- Week 17: at Eagles
- Week 18: Carolina Panthers
Outside of the Eagles, it's a relatively easy schedule.
The Saints are currently favored in two of their remaining four games. They'll most likely be favored against the Panthers in Week 18, but a spread for the game wasn't available at the time of this writing.
It will be interesting to see how the NFC looks ahead of the Eagles-Saints game on New Year's Day.
The Eagles will absolutely want to win that game to improve their draft pick, but if they beat Dallas the week before, will they have the No. 1 seed locked up?
It's unclear, especially with the way the Minnesota Vikings keep winning games. They currently sit at 10-2, one game behind the Eagles. But the Eagles also own the tiebreaker due to their 24-7 victory in Week 2.
The Eagles most likely will have to play their starters that game, but they're probably hoping they can give them a rest against the Giants in the final week of the regular season.
The Saints' Week 18 game against the Panthers will be huge in determining where the Eagles select in the draft next year.
The Panthers are currently one slot behind the Saints, picking sixth. But Carolina has a much easier schedule for the remainder of the season, which is good for the Eagles.
Eagles fans will be cheering for two teams in Week 18 -- the Birds and the Panthers to improve that asset general manager Howie Roseman will be able to use in a trade or a top-level talent in 2023.