Canal Street Chronicles
Last year, when the trade deadline was creeping closer and closer, the feeling around the New Orleans Saints was that this team could be sellers at the trade deadline. If that was the case, which it was, CB Marshon Lattimore was the obvious choice to be traded. This turned out to be the one move the Saints made at the deadline, and looking back at the details of the trade, it was a great move by New Orleans.
Now, back to the present (or future…. get it?)
The NFL trade deadline is less than a month away, and the Saints are 1-5. This team could, probably not, but could turn this season around and win games. There has only been one game in which the Saints were absolutely dominated. Every other game was a few plays away from a result being changed, but looking at this in a realistic lens, the New Orleans must be sellers at the deadline. There are too many issues on the roster to trust what this team can currently do, and the Saints’ draft capital is not good due to moves made before the season. This is a rebuild, and if the Saints want to improve next season, they will make a move at the deadline.
But who could be traded away?
If there is any comparable move to the Marshon Lattimore trade last season, this would be the one. The Saints have an interesting situation on their hands with the WRs. Former first-round pick Chris Olave’s fifth-year option was picked up in the offseason, so he is under contract until the end of the 2026/27 season, but a contract extension is already something to consider. The New York Jets gave WR Garrett Wilson, who was selected one pick before Chris Olave, a 4-year, $130,000,000 contract. Olave’s agent will use this as the basis that the Saints should give his client, but New Orleans will bring up the injury history in negotiations. Realistically, the contract should be a 4-years, $120,000,000, but still, that may be too much.
As I mentioned, Chris Olave has had an extensive injury history, and although he has stayed on the field this season, it’s a real worry for the future. It should also be considered that Olave has struggled with some drops, mental mistakes, and an inability to find a rhythm with QB Spencer Rattler. Olave is only 25 and has major potential, but betting on that is way too risky for the Saints, who are in the middle of a rebuild.
If New Orleans decides to keep Olave and extend his contract, the next option would have to be Rashid Shaheed. The former undrafted WR is out of contract after this season, so getting any draft capital back for a WR already going to leave is a great idea. Yes, the Saints could extend Shaheed, but keeping Olave would make it way too expensive to keep both WRs on this team. With some cap gymnastics,...
