Here’s an unusual New Orleans Saints trade proposal. Sports Illustrated’s Conor Orr suggests the Saints should part ways with one of their first-round picks from the 2022 NFL draft in order to get something back from a playoff contender — but it isn’t Chris Olave, who has been at the center of many rumors himself.
Here’s why Orr likes the fit of Trevor Penning on the Detroit Lions, whose 5-2 record trails the 5-1-1 Green Bay Packers for supremacy in the NFC North:
Trevor Penning did not have his fifth-year option picked up by the Saints. The former first-round pick has guard/tackle flexibility and could help the Lions ease the burden of a banged-up Taylor Decker and continue the team’s push to replenish the lifeblood of their team. Penning had a promising rookie debut but has been subjected to some bad Saints teams and offensive lines that did not necessarily offer a lot of complementary aid. The Saints are going to push for as much draft equity as possible as they reshape a roster under Kellen Moore, who spent a first-round pick on a tackle, Kelvin Banks Jr., in this past year’s draft.
If the Saints can get a fourth rounder back for Penning, they should jump on it. That wouldn’t make up for the fourth-round pick they traded to the Denver Broncos for wide receiver Devaughn Vele (which will likely fall at the top of the round, compared to the end from Detroit), but getting back on the board is still important. And they aren’t going to get a fourth-round compensatory pick for Penning if he leaves in free agency. That would mean he’s signing a contract worth $13 million or more on the open market. No team is paying him that based on how he’s performed so far.
Penning was a bust at left tackle. He made some strides at right tackle, but this year he’s been moved inside to left guard, where he’s been inconsistent at best. He’s drawn five penalties (3 holding fouls, 2 false starts) in six starts since returning from another injury, which has been the story for him all too often throughout his Saints career. The way things seem right now, Penning won’t be re-signed by the Saints in the spring, and trading him to get a mid-round pick back might be the best they can hope for. Veteran backup Dillon Radunz is waiting in the wings, so they could move on from Penning more easily than you might expect.
Of course this wasn’t the only Saints trade proposal in Orr’s article. He also linked Alvin Kamara to the Kansas City Chiefs, but that feels much less likely. Kamara has voiced his disinterest in moving on to a different team and even joked about not reporting if the Saints do trade him. So maybe don’t hold your breath on that one.
