5 WR's Saints Could Target at NFL Trade Deadline
The NFL Trade Deadline arrives next Tuesday, October 29th at 4 PM Eastern time, and with the New Orleans Saints appearing to lack depth at the wide receiver position, they potentially are in the market to add one prior to that time.
The only issue for the Black and Gold at the moment is that with a limited amount of resources to work with, they won’t be able to offer a potential trade partner very much in return as compensation, for making any kind of deal. New Orleans only has five picks in next April’s 2020 NFL Draft, after they used both their 2nd and 7th Round selections to players on the roster in last April’s 2019 Draft (rookies Erik McCoy and Chauncey-Gardner Johnson).
That said, the Saints are expected to be active in their search to upgrade the wide receiver position; and although it’s very doubtful that they’d offer a team their 1st Round selection, their 3rd, 4th, 5th, and 6th Round selections are all picks that can ; to land a player they feel would become a complementary piece on the opposite side of starting #1 All-Pro WR Michael Thomas.
With that in mind, here are 5 potential trade targets for the New Orleans Saints.
#1. ROBBY ANDERSON, NEW YORK JETS
Mandatory Credit: Robert Deutsch, USA TODAY Sports
Anderson is in the final year of his rookie deal that he originally signed with New York after they signed him as an undrafted free agent out of Temple University. following the 2016 NFL Draft three years ago. The 26-year-old Anderson has led Gang Green in receptions for the past two seasons, with his “break out” season occurring in 2017; when he tallied 63 receptions for 941 yards and 7 TD’s. He then followed that up last year in 2018 with another 752 receiving yards and 6 TD’s.
However, Anderson’s numbers have taken a nose-dive this season through the Jets’ first seven games, as he has only 17 passes for 266 yards and 1 TD, on a team that has had major issues both with injuries and adapting to the new scheme of 1st year head coach Adam Gase.
The 6-foot-3, 190 pound Anderson has elite-caliber speed (a 4.36 40-yard dash time) and would be an attraction for a team (like the Saints) looking to add a deep threat on the outside boundary who can stretch defenses. If New Orleans were to offer their 3rd selection, a deal seemingly would be one which could come to full fruition.
#2. DEVANTE PARKER, MIAMI DOLPHINS
Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman, USA TODAY Sports
Once thought to be the premier pass-catcher coming out of the University of Louisville in the 2015 NFL Draft, the 6-foot-3, 216 pound Parker has been a major disappointment since Miami took him that year with the 14th overall selection in the 1st Round. The original projections were that he would eventually blossom into an NFL “superstar”.
In 60 career games up to this point with the Dolphins, the 26-year-old has caught 181 receptions for 2,501 yards and 12 TD’s; numbers which fall far short of the expectations that many analysts had projected for him to have by this point of his career. In complete fairness though, it should that Miami since that time has gone through several coaches, QB’s, and offensive which undoubtedly have hindered his development at the professional level.
A former college teammate and top receiving target of Saints back-up QB Teddy Bridgewater, Parker is still in his prime physically and it’s believed that with proper coaching technique (such as that of Saints WR coach Curtis “CJ” Johnson) and a chance to learn and become effective within a new scheme, the Kentucky native could revitalize his career in the right situation. Parker’s current contract expires at the end of next season, and New Orleans likely could land him with a 3rd Round pick.
#3. NELSON AGHOLOR, PHILADELPHIA EAGLES
Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher, USA TODAY Sports
Much like Parker has been a disappointment in Miami, the 26-year-old Agholor has been a similar disappointment for Philadelphia, who selected him with the 20th overall selection of that same 2015 NFL Draft four years ago, out of the University of Southern California. Agholor was a part of the Eagles’ Super Bowl-winning team in 2017, but outside of that accomplishment on his professional resume, has mostly fulfill his potential in the pro ranks after being a college football superstar at USC.
Plagued by a series of injuries and ineffectiveness, the former USA TODAY High School All-American receiver in his first four NFL seasons caught 172 passes for 1,939 yards and 15 TD’s. But those were numbers expected from him in two seasons worth of play, not double that amount. This season in 7 games, Agholor has 25 catches for 254 yards and 3 TD’s.
But just as with Parker, the 6-foot, 198 pound Agholor a top talent as a pass-catcher and is a player believed to be someone who could a change of scenery and an opportunity to play within a new offensive scheme. The asking price for New Orleans would likely be a 4th Round selection, for a young man that would give the Saints added depth at a position that could stand an upgrade.
#4. PAUL RICHARDSON JR., WASHINGTON REDSKINS
Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan, USA TODAY Sports
With the (1-6) Redskins having drafted their franchise wide receiver this past April in rookie sensation Terry McLaurin out of Ohio State, Richardson is a player that likely can obtained for the right price; especially with Washington headed for another losing season and an inevitable coaching change at the end of the year.
Originally drafted by Seattle with the 45th overall selection in the 2nd Round of the 2014 NFL Draft out of the University of Colorado, the 27-year-old Richardson caught 95 passes for 1,332 yards and 8 TD’s in his first 4 seasons with the Seahawks before he signed with the Redskins in Free Agency in March of last year. But his season was cut short because of a shoulder injury, and the 6-foot, 190 pound speedster only caught 20 passes for 262 yards and 2 TD’s in seven games before landing on injured reserve.
This season in 7 games, Richardson has 20 catches for 163 yards and 2 TD’s, but has been a major disappointment while the rookie McLaurin has emerged as the Redskins’ top weapon on offense. Richardson still has another 3 seasons remaining on his contract after this year, and a 5th Round selection doesn’t seem to be out of the question as compensation if the Saints feel he could add depth to their current corps of receivers.
#5. A.J. GREEN, CINCINNATI BENGALS
Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster, USA TODAY Sports
Although the asking price (most likely a 1st Round pick) would be too high for the Saints to snag him, Green is still one of the NFL’s elite WR’s and is widely rumored to be on the trading block; even though he’s been the Bengals #1 franchise player ever since they selected him 8 years ago with the 4th overall selection in the 2011 NFL Draft out of the University of Georgia.
In those eight seasons, the 6-foot-4, 230 pound Green has played in 111 career games and has tallied 602 receptions for 8,907 yards and 63 TD’s. But throughout that entire length of time, the 31-year-old former 2-time All-American has consistently off and on, and he ended up on injured reserve last year with an ankle issue after catching 46 passes for 694 yards and 6 TD’s. The injuries remain a factor for Green, who has yet to play this season after the same ankle caused him more trouble and has kept him out of action since last December.
But he’s expected to return within the next few weeks, and could be the perfect player for a playoff-contending team (like the Saints) looking to add quality depth and the obvious experience that he has once the post-season arrives. The only “catch” (no pun intended) for New Orleans is that the cost will probably be too steep, and one New Orleans would be unwise to pay for a player over the age of 30 with a notable and concerning injury history.
