The Saints are staring at a trade deadline that could go in two very different directions, and the path they choose may hinge on what happens over the next few weeks. A week ago, the idea was that New Orleans might swing for help on defense.
After a 1-3 start and a rough Monday Night Football loss, the conversation has shifted. If the Saints do anything, the first two moves should be about adding draft capital.
If they turn things around, then buying becomes more realistic.
One of the clearest names to watch is Cesar Ruiz. He was already a trade target for other teams last season, and there was a sense New Orleans was open to moving him then.
The deal never materialized, but Mickey Loomis did say at the end of the season that suggested the staff needed to see more from Ruiz. That pressure only grew once the Saints drafted Jeremiah Wright, a player this staff loved.
Wright’s steady preseason progress didn’t help Ruiz’s standing either.
Now the Saints’ offensive line is still struggling in pass protection and in the run game, and that makes a move feel more likely. If the team wants to see what it has in Wright, that’s one thing. But the cleanest way to do it would be through a trade.
Another possibility, if New Orleans can claw back into the season, is going after help at EDGE. The pass rush has not been close to good enough, and with the defense also having trouble handling opposing pass catchers, that kind of upgrade would help across the board.
One name that fits is New York Jets EDGE Will McDonald IV. He has fallen out of favor in New York after the Jets added more bodies at EDGE, but he remains a talented pass rusher on a good contract.
He would not solve everything, but he would make the pass rush better and could give the Saints a long-term option.
The most surprising name in the mix is Justin Reid. He is a captain and his leadership has been solid, but the signing has not paid off the way New Orleans hoped.
Reid is still a good player, and if the Saints keep losing, a winning team could have real interest in him. There is also the Jonas Sanker piece of this.
The Saints seem to be handling Sanker in a way that reminds the writer of what happened with Alontae Taylor.
Taylor was moved to slot corner, and even after showing promise on the outside, that decision slowed his growth. The writer believes the same thing is happening with Sanker, and that moving him back to safety would be better for his career. Trading Reid could make that easier to do.
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