One Saints player could be leaving before NFL trade deadline

This year’s NFL trade deadline is Tuesday, November 5th. With 2-6 players and a small salary cap, the New Orleans Saints are not going to be “buyers” on the trade market this season.

And the Saints won’t stage a fire sale and gut the team, as some fans want and some national media seem to hope. There is a chance, although extremely small, that the Saints will engage in some activity before the deadline.

Despite the team’s performance, there are still several valuable players on the roster. However, some veterans have contracts that make relocation nearly impossible.

Marshon Lattimore has been the fixture most often mentioned in New Orleans trade scenarios. This is extremely unlikely. Lattimore had a strong season, becoming one of the few consistent standouts on this team’s defense and remains one of the best corners in the NFL.

A previous restructuring of his contract would mean Lattimore would still be looking at more than $23 million in dead money for the Saints if traded. Unless New Orleans receives a first-round draft pick and then a conditional pick in return, it’s unlikely they’ll be willing to accept that cap.

Veterans like Demario Davis and Cameron Jordan have contracts similar to Lattimore’s due to previous restructured deals. Therefore, it seems unlikely that any of these beloved Saints were touched.

It’s just as unlikely that New Orleans will move on from its young core. The Saints haven’t been a very good draft team for a few years now. They may not have had a good draft since 2017. However, they still managed to score at least a few chances to rebuild the team.

Chris Olave, Rashid Shahid, Talise Fuaga, Alonte Taylor, Brian Bresee and even Trevor Penning may not be among the elite. However, they are all good young players who are still on their rookie contracts and will be vital to returning to consistent playoff contender status. Carl Granderson and Pete Werner can also be included in this youth group.

With that being said, there is one player the Saints could potentially trade. He has also been the subject of several recent rumors.

Arguably the Saints’ biggest offseason acquisition was Young, the No. 2 overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft out of Ohio State. He certainly talked about why he was drafted so high at various points in his career but never found success.

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 the 2020 Defensive Rookie of the Year award and his only Pro Bowl selection to date.

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

New Orleans signed Young to a one-year contract this offseason. They expected him to revive their disappointing passing game, while Young hoped a good year would earn him a big-money contract after the season.

Neck surgery delayed Young’s trip to training camp. This was just the latest in a series of various injuries that would cause him to miss time in his career. However, once he took the field, it was easy to see why the Saints thought he would be crucial to the defense. He also played in every game, appearing in 69% of defensive snaps.

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

Young also played well against Run earlier in the year. He has four tackles for loss, but he consistently penetrates the backfield against the pass and run, which impacts the game, especially early on. Lately, like the rest of his defensive linemates, Young has struggled to make much of an impact.

For much of New Orleans’ six-game losing streak, its once formidable defense was one of the worst in the league. Young and the rest of the team showed some signs that things have turned around after last week’s loss to the Chargers. However, they still find it difficult to play, especially in the most important moments that can turn the game around.

At 25 years old, with an impressive combination of power and athleticism at 6-foot-5 and 265 pounds, Young is an attractive addition to any defense. With Cam Jordan at 35 years old and draft busts like Marcus Davenport, Payton Turner and Isaiah Foskey, a good complement to Karl Granderson is a big need for the team.

The reality is that New Orleans may not be able to meet Young’s potential contract expectations after the season. With a strong finish to the year, Young’s performance will be closer to his potential, which will push up the price of his contract.

With the Saints unlikely to be in the playoff picture going forward, a deal for Young would make some sense. He will essentially be rented to another team for the remainder of the season, but will provide New Orleans with much-needed draft capital to rebuild in several areas.

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

Baltimore, Denver or the Chargers could be AFC teams to watch to see if Young is available for a trade. Everyone is gearing up for a playoff run, and Young would be an attractive addition to any pass rusher facing Patrick Mahomes in a potential playoff game.

After all, it’s highly likely that the Saints won’t make any moves at all at the trade deadline. If they do, Chase Young will likely leave. His one-year deal won’t impact the team’s future earnings, and he’s still attractive enough to other teams to bring much-needed draft picks to the Saints in return.