One Saints player could be on the move at the NFL trade deadline

This year’s NFL trade deadline is Tuesday, November 5. At 2-6 and with a small payroll, the New Orleans Saints aren’t going to be buyers on the trade market this season.

Nor will the Saints sell out and gut the team, as some fans want and some in the national media seem to hope. There is a possibility, though very small, that the Saints are involved in some activity before the deadline.

There are still some valuable players in the lineup despite the team’s performance. However, several veterans have contracts that make it nearly impossible for them to move.

Marshawn Lattimore was the New Orleans regular most often mentioned in trade scenarios. This is extremely unlikely. Lattimore had a solid season, one of the few consistent backs on this team, and still ranks among the best corners in the NFL.

A previous restructuring of his contract would have meant Lattimore would still have more than $23 million in dead money for the Saints if traded. Unless New Orleans gets a first-round draft pick along with a late conditional pick in return, it’s unlikely they’ll want to take that capital shot.

Veterans like Demario Davis and Cameron Jordan have contracts similar to Lattimore’s due to previous restructured deals. So it seems very unlikely that any of these beloved saints would be touched.

It’s also unlikely that New Orleans will walk away from any of its younger core. For several years, the Saints have drafted poorly. They may not have had a good draft since 2017. However, they still made at least a few pieces to rebuild the team.

Chris Olave, Rasheed Shahid, Talis Fuaga, Alonte Taylor, Brian Breezy and even Trevor Penning may not be elite. However, they are all good young players still on rookie contracts and will be vital to getting back to being a consistent playoff contender. Carl Granderson and Pete Werner can also be included in this youth group.

With all that said, there is one player the Saints could snag in a potential trade. He has also been the subject of several recent rumors.

Arguably the biggest offseason for the Saints was Young, the second overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft out of Ohio State. He certainly explained why he was drafted highly at various times in his career, but he never quite hit the ground running.

As a rookie for Washington, Young had 7.5 sacks, 24 pressures, 10 tackles for loss and four forced fumbles. He played well enough to earn 2020 Defensive Rookie of the Year honors and his only Pro Bowl selection to date.

Injuries and inconsistent play limited him to just two sacks and three tackles for loss in 11 games in 2021 and 2022. Washington eventually traded Young to San Francisco midway through last season, but he had a solid year with 7.5 sacks and 25 pressures between teams. two teams

New Orleans signed Young to a one-year deal in the offseason. They expected him to reinvigorate their disappointing pass rush, and Young hoped a good year would allow him to sign a big-money contract after the season.

Neck surgery delayed the start of Young’s training camp. It was just the latest in a series of various injuries that have cost him time in his career. Once he got on the field, though, it was easy to see why the Saints thought he would be an excellent defensive player. He also played in every game, appearing in 69% of the defensive snaps.

Young has just two sacks for the Saints this season. That’s not to say he didn’t have an impact or didn’t play well in spurts. He leads the team by a wide margin with 12 QB hits, and his 15 QB hits are second only to Carl Granderson on the team.

Young also played well against an injury early in the year. He has four tackles for loss, but gets consistent penetration into the defensive backfield against the pass and run to impact the game, especially early on. Like the rest of his defensive teammates, Young has struggled to make a significant impact of late.

For most of New Orleans’ six-game losing streak, the once-powerful defense has been one of the worst in the league. Young and the rest of the team showed some signs of turning things around in last week’s loss to the Chargers. However, they still tried to play, especially in the most important moments that could turn the game.

At just 25 years old and an impressive combination of power and athleticism at 6’5″ and 265 pounds, Young is an attractive addition to any defense. The Saints themselves would be unwise to consider a long-term contract extension for Young. Cam Jordan, 35, and losses like Marcus Davenport, Peyton Turner and Isaiah Foskey are big needs on the team.

The reality is that New Orleans may not meet Young’s likely contract expectations after the season. With a strong finish to the year, Young’s production will more closely match his potential, which will increase his signing price.

With the Saints unlikely to be a playoff contender, a deal for Young would make some sense. He was essentially on loan for the rest of the season to another team, but would bring New Orleans some much-needed draft capital to rebuild in several areas.

There are several teams that could be interested in trading for Young. Leading the list are the Detroit Lions, who lost star DE Aiden Hutchinson for the rest of the year. Green Bay, Philadelphia or even back to Washington could also be options among NFC contenders.

Baltimore, Denver or the Chargers could be AFC teams to watch if Young can be traded. All of them are ready for the playoffs, and Young would be an attractive addition to any offense facing Patrick Mahomes in a possible playoff game.

After all, it’s very likely the Saints won’t make a move at all until the trade deadline. If they do, Chase Young is the most likely player to be on the move. His one-year deal doesn’t affect the team’s future big money, and he’s still attractive enough to other teams to bring much-needed draft picks to the Saints in return.