New Orleans Saints
By Ross Jackson
The New Orleans Saints have been particularly active in the trade market following their preseason tie with the Jacksonville Jaguars.
First, the team traded away defensive tackle Khalen Saunders to the Jaguars in exchange for some interior offensive line depth in veteran center Luke Fortner. Then, days later, the Saints traded a 2026 fourth round pick and a seven rounder in 2027 to the Denver Broncos (their next preseason opponent) to acquire a much needed asset in big-bodied wide receiver Devaughn Vele.
While there are rumors of the team now in the market for a running back, it might be time for New Orleans to pump the brakes and re-engage transition mode. Trading moveable players for picks would be wise, but sending away draft selections for short-term talent may not be.
The team looked to be on the righteous path of rebuilding its roster in the vision of its all-new coaching staff and shelling out future assets in order to add talent now is a hard right turn from that initial path.
Either the Saints have recently seen something in practices that make them feel like they can be contenders this year after all, or the team is actually focused on something else.
The one exception to abandoning the trade market for now is if the Saints can land an affordable talent that has future years left on their deal, much like Vele.
Vele is under contract until 2027. It’s a smart move by New Orleans, filling a glaring need at wide receiver with a big-bodied target for its young quarterbacks, and one they can keep beyond a one-year rental. If the Saints can find another move like that, there could be some value in making it. But outside of that very specific case, hoarding future capital could be important in continuing to build this roster up.
New Orleans finally looked like it was embracing its plan in the NFL lifespan. But the rumors of deepening interest in the trade market seem to signal otherwise.
The Saints are down to just five selections now in the 2026 draft.
- First round pick
- Second round pick
- Third round pick
- Fifth round pick
- Sixth round pick
Those selections are projected to be early in each round. Unless the Saints truly believe they can turn those into late-round selections instead, focusing on what’s already in the building might be the best path forward for the team.
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