The NFL trade deadline is this afternoon. Will any players from the New Orleans Saints be on the move? Several names have been thrown around in recent weeks. A few longtime veterans like Cameron Jordan, Demario Davis, and Alvin Kamara aren’t likely going anywhere. There is too much loyalty between the organization and these players, plus it’s unlikely a trade involving any of the three bring back a worthwhile return. If any of the three are moved, it would most likely be Kamara, but this would still be a major surprise.
The most recent rumors have swirled around guard Cesar Ruiz and defensive back Alontae Taylor. Ruiz is the biggest liability on the offensive line and a couple solid players like rookie Torricelli Simpkins and veteran Dillon Radunz are in reserve. The Seattle Seahawks and former Saints offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak are reportedly interested in Ruiz. New Orleans could, and absolutely should, make this move if true. Ruiz has a contract that greatly escalates after this season and he has at best been highly erratic and at worst a human turnstile. One Day 3 pick and another potential conditional pick from a team willing to pick up even a portion of Ruiz’ salary would be a major win.
Other Names to Watch
Some other under-the-radar names to watch on offense are guard Trevor Penning and wide receiver Brandin Cooks. Penning will be a free agent after this year, but could be a New Orleans target to re-sign if they part with Ruiz. If the Saints don’t get an offer they like for Ruiz, then they could settle on a Day 3 pick for Penning. Both players turn just 27 this offseason, with either a potentially enticing offensive line addition for a contender. Cooks is a 12-year veteran, but could add quality depth and brings plenty of extremely valuable playoff experience. Enough, perhaps, for a mid-late Day 3 pick.
If you’re looking for under-the-radar defensive targets, then Carl Granderson, Pete Werner, or Nathan Shepherd could pop up on the news wires today. Granderson isn’t a premier pass rusher, but led the Saints in sacks two years ago and is doing so again so far this year. He also has a contract that escalates greatly after this season and isn’t a building block for this team’s future. However, Granderson could add pass rushing depth to a contender and be worth an early-mid Day 3 selection. Shepherd has come on lately and could be a valuable part of a thin defensive line rotation for someone, perhaps as high as a mid-Day 3 choice. Werner may bring that kind of return, at very most.
Like Ruiz on offense, Werner has been a bigger liability than asset for the defense. However, he is at least a solid run defender that could be valuable to a team with injuries in their linebacker corps. With rookie Danny Stutsman and second-year Isaiah Stalbird getting more snaps recently, the Saints would be wise to move on from Werner for even a late-round draft pick.
New Orleans wide receivers Chris Olave and Rashid Shaheed have both been mentioned frequently as trade options. Those rumors have cooled somewhat in the last week or so. One reason is because of the Saints reported asking price for either. Another is because of reports that New Orleans has no interest in trading Olave, instead working towards a long-term contract extension. It would be a mistake to fully believe all this and think that one of these wideouts may not be on another team by the end of the day.
Shaheed will be a free agent at year’s end, and one that the Saints may not be able to re-sign. At 1-8, there’s absolutely no reason for New Orleans to hold on to Shaheed if they get even a decent offer AND do not believe they could bring him back at the end of the season. Olave is a different story, but only slightly so. The Saints have picked up his fifth-year option, which means he’ll be under contract in 2026. However, his cap hit jumps from a little under $6.2 million this season to nearly $15.5 million next year. Additionally, re-signing Olave could result in a contract that could average close to $25 million annually. That’s the salary of a number one receiver, which Olave has not consistently indicated that he can be.
New Orleans has a passing attack that averages only 197.6 yards per game, ranking 22nd in the league. Quarterback play, pass blocking, and coaching/play-calling have been issues. The pass catchers certainly haven’t done their part. Olave has 55 receptions for 560 yards and 3 touchdowns, leading the team in all three categories along with 87 targets. However, that’s just a 48.3% catch rate with a 10.2 average per catch with several crucial drops. That’s not the production of a number one wideout. Shaheed is just behind Olave with 44 receptions for 499 yards and 2 scores on 66 targets, averaging a team-high 11.2 per catch. He’s an even better big-play threat than Olave, but has not made nearly enough of those types of plays.
Olave likely brings the biggest return of any Saints player that could potentially be traded. Either he or Shaheed would almost certainly bring back at least a mid-Day 2 draft choice, if not more than one pick. It wouldn’t make any sense to completely gut a receiving corps while trying to develop rookie quarterback Tyler Shough, so New Orleans would not move both wideouts. Let’s also acknowledge that this is one of many units that the Saints need to upgrade significantly this offseason. The best way to rebuild all the positions in need is through the draft.
It shouldn’t come as a surprise if either Olave or Shaheed (not both) are with different teams by the end of today. This holds true for at least a couple of the other names listed above. Don’t expect a complete gutting of the roster, but if the Saints can get some much-needed draft choices from trading a couple of these players, they need to pull the trigger. At 1-8 this season and losers of 20 of their last 24 outings, the current makeup of this roster has proven they aren’t the answer for the present or the future.
