The New Orleans Saints are staring at a trade deadline that could force some uncomfortable decisions, and Carl Granderson is right at the center of it.
At 2-5 coming out of the bye, the Saints are in a spot that points toward selling when the NFL trade deadline arrives Tuesday, November 10. That makes Granderson one of the more obvious names to watch. The edge rusher has opened 2026 with 5.5 sacks, and after years of showing flashes without fully sustaining them, he has finally put it together and become one of the league’s more productive pass rushers.
That kind of production is exactly why New Orleans should at least listen.
Moving Granderson would sting. He’s a major part of the pass rush, and losing him would leave a real hole.
But if the Saints are not going to turn this season around, the return could outweigh the pain of dealing him away. The idea here is simple: cash in while his value is at its peak.
There’s a case to be made that Granderson could bring back day-two draft value in the 2027 NFL Draft, possibly even a second-round pick. The market for defensive linemen can get expensive fast, as shown by former Tennessee Titans defensive tackle Jeffrey Simmons being moved for two first-round picks. Granderson is not in that tier, but he is still the kind of disruptive player who can help a contender right away.
And there should be no shortage of interest. Every team can use more edge rush help, and Granderson’s skill set should fit a wide range of schemes. This is less about whether teams will call and more about what they’re willing to put on the table.
If multiple teams get involved, the Saints could find themselves in a bidding war that pushes the price even higher.
Granderson’s contract only adds to the appeal. He makes $13 million annually, and at 29 years old, he’s a player a team in championship mode could view as both a short-term boost and a longer-term piece on the defensive line. He’s also an unrestricted free agent, which only increases the urgency for a team looking to make a move.
There’s no question Granderson has a connection to New Orleans, and the feeling is mutual. But the Saints are not in a position to chase contention right now. That means the focus has to shift toward the future, even if that runs against the way general manager Mickey Loomis usually operates.
So the Saints are headed into a deadline that could get very busy, and very difficult. If they decide to act, franchise pieces could be on the move. Carl Granderson may be one of the last players in black and gold to go.
In Other News...
Gayle Benson Sends Saints A Clear Message About This Season
Gayle Benson made it clear this week that the Saints are not being judged solely by their 2-5 start, at least not in the moment. The New Orleans owner said she has confidence in the players effort and signaled that the organization will take a broader look at the roster and staff once the season is over, a familiar stance for a team trying to steady itself while the losses pile up.
There has already been one notable change on the coaching side, with the Saints parting ways with run-game coordinator T.J. Paganetti after the rushing offense struggled badly. Benson also touched on the leagues growing international footprint, including the possibility of New Orleans being part of an NFL International Series game in Italy as the league expands its Global Markets Program there, adding another layer to a season that still has plenty of questions attached to it. [Read more 🡒]
Browns Face A Bigger Question Than The Offense In New Orleans
The Browns head to New Orleans on Sunday with both teams trying to steady themselves after recent losses, and the matchup carries a little more weight than a simple rebound spot. The Saints come out of their bye week as slight home favorites, which says plenty about how odd this season has been for both sides and how much the market still trusts New Orleans to sort things out at home.
Much of the attention will naturally fall on the Saints offense, where Chris Olave remains the most important name to watch even as his production has cooled from the strong start he gave them. Cleveland has its own issues to clean up, but the bigger question in this game may be whether New Orleans can use the extra week to re-establish itself before the pressure around the season starts to tighten. [Read more 🡒]
Saints Reach A Roster Crossroads With Deadline Pressure Building
With the Saints still sorting through a difficult stretch, the next few days have become about more than just the game plan. New Orleans is evaluating injured players Jordyn Tyson, Travis Etienne Jr. and Kelvin Banks Jr. for possible returns to practice, a sign the staff is at least hoping to get some bodies back in the mix as it tries to steady the roster.
At the same time, the front office is keeping an eye on the bigger picture. Kendre Miller and Justin Reid are among the names being monitored as possible trade candidates if the Saints decide to sell, which adds another layer of uncertainty to a roster already facing important decisions. Nothing has been finalized, but the pressure is building as New Orleans weighs whether to push forward with what it has or start reshaping the group around it. [Read more 🡒]