The New Orleans Saints are gearing up to make all their free agency agreements official, putting pens to paper and inking new players like Latavius Murray. But they have to wait until 3 p.m. central when the new NFL fiscal year rolls over, just like every other team.
In addition to those big free agent signings will be all the agreed-upon trades floating around. Here’s four trades the Saints should explore while there’s still time to work out a deal before free agency kicks off in earnest.
4. LB Darron Lee, New York Jets
The Jets have invested a ton of resources into improving their linebacker situation, replacing Demario Davis with Avery Williamson a year ago and then agreeing to a historic contract with C.J. Mosley in the upcoming signing period. That’s tough news for Lee, who ended his breakout 2018 season with a four-game suspension after violating the league’s substance abuse policy. He notched three interceptions and five pass breakups in 12 games beforehand, looking adept in pass coverage while showing up in run defense with eight tackles for loss or no gain. If the Jets are looking to move on from their former first round pick, Lee would fit in well with all the other Ohio State Buckeyes in New Orleans.
3. DE Emmanuel Ogbah, Cleveland Browns
The Browns have remodeled their defensive line this offseason, signing defensive tackle Sheldon Richardson and trading for New York Giants pass rusher Olivier Vernon. Adam Schefter of ESPN reported that the Vernon acquisition put Ogbah on the trading block. The Saints need another defensive end with just Cameron Jordan, Marcus Davenport, and Trey Hendrickson rostered for the 2019 season. Ogbah has played well for the Browns but not been as great as they hoped, and the former second-round pick could be had for a reasonable price. He’s picked up 12.5 sacks and 29 other quarterback hits in three years for Cleveland.
2. WR Jakeem Grant, Miami Dolphins
This is a move we’ve advocated for before. Grant was a protege for new Saints special teams coordinator Darren Rizzi, showing serious star power on punt and kickoff returns. He fielded more punts than any Saints player in 10 games last season, going down with an injured Achilles tendon that required corrective surgery. Kamara led the Saints in punt returns in 2018 with 12 attempts in 16 games, averaging 6.8 yards per return. Grant shredded that number with 16.3 yards per return on two fewer attempts, in six fewer games. The Saints have locked up every other special teams unit, and it’s time they finally get a real punt returner like Grant.
1. WR Kenny Stills, Miami Dolphins
That’s a familiar name, right? The Saints originally drafted Stills in the fifth round of the 2013 NFL Draft, and made the no-brainer decision a few years later to flip him for a third round pick in the 2015 NFL Draft and linebacker Dannell Ellerbe. At the time, they were loaded up at wide receiver and needed more draft capital, as well as playmakers on defense. Well those plans fell through, and Stills developed into one of the NFL’s better receivers out past the sticks. He may be on the move with a new Dolphins regime in place and a relatively-low 553 receiving yards last year. If so, the Saints would do well to make a move for him, bringing Stills back to New Orleans in an offense and quarterback he’s familiar with. He’d be a perfect compliment to Michael Thomas.
