Gregory Fisher-Imagn Images
By Ross Jackson
After the reported pursuit of now Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver Keenan Allen came up short, the New Orleans Saints could turn elsewhere to find another option.
While the team may have been uniquely interested in Allen, it’s also possible that they were more focused on adding another more physical option to the wide receiver room. Should the latter be the case, here are three options that make sense for the Saints to pursue.
Amari Cooper – Free Agent
Much like Allen, Cooper has familiarity with Saints head coach Kellen Moore. The two were together for the 2019-2021 seasons with the Dallas Cowboys during Moore’s stint as the team’s offensive coordinator.
Over their three years together, Cooper topped 1,000 receiving yards twice, exceeding 800 in all three seasons. Cooper had a combined 21 receiving touchdowns during those yearsl.
He wouldn’t give the Saints their first receiver of the year of 6-foot-3 or above. But at 6-foot-1 and 211 pounds, Cooper plays with a very physical style.
Jauan Jennings – San Francisco 49ers
This would require a trade, but likely not at a steep price. Jennings and the 49ers seemed to be at odds over a contract situation early in the offseason. He’s now nursing a calf injury, though there seem to be questions about whether or not the injury is simply providing an opportunity to hold out.
49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan didn’t alleviate those concerns with his pointed answer earlier this week.
“You can ask him that,” the coach said when questioned about the injury. “But he tells me it’s his calf and the calf shows. So, got to be delicate with those calves.”
If Jennings and San Francisco remain at odds even after the injury, he could be a cost-effective and impactful pursuit to consider. That is, assuming the calf is okay.
Jennings’s bigger body build and versatile skill set could benefit not only the wide receiver room, but provide a boost to the offense as a whole.
Terry McLaurin – Washington Commanders
Based on everything the Saints have done over the 2024 and 2025 off-seasons, this move is very unlikely. It would take significant draft capital to pry McLaurin away from the Commanders, and a sizable contract to keep him long-term.
The Commanders and McLaurin appear likely to strike a deal eventually, as is common in these situations, which would only drive up his trade value even further.
This is an option, but it seems fairly unlikely. However, the Saints are about to embark on a future with a quarterback on a rookie contract taking the reins. That could help New Orleans move some money around.
