The New Orleans Saints are entering one of the most important days of their season, the NFL Trade Deadline. Currently, New Orleans only has five selections in the 2026 NFL Draft, which is nowhere near enough for this rebuilding team. This team needs to trade players, and there is a straightforward way for the Saints to become winners at the 2025 NFL Trade Deadline.
Start With Trading One of the Top Saints WRs
Last trade deadline, New Orleans made a homerun trade by moving on from CB Marshon Lattimore for a third-round pick from the Washington Commanders. I’m not sure the Saints can recreate that trade this time around, but if there is one asset that could make it happen, it would be WR Rashid Shaheed.
Teams around the league have been making calls to the Saints about their pass catchers, and with Chris Olave slated to stay with the team, Shaheed is the next player available. This season, Shaheed is ranked No. 35 in PFSN’s WR Impact metric, and teams will value him pretty high due to his big-play potential.
Market set for receiver deals https://t.co/YSngYkFTdu
— Nick Underhill (@nick_underhill) November 4, 2025
New Orleans is expected to request a third-round pick due to the compensatory pick in consideration, and there is a real chance a team will meet that price. If not, the Saints should still trade Shaheed, even if it is for a fourth. This team needs picks for the 2026 NFL Draft.
Prioritize the Youth Movement
Sometimes, removing a starting player from a roster, even if it costs a significant amount, is the best move in the long run. This is what the Saints are faced with, and two people come to mind when thinking about this roster: Cesar Ruiz and Pete Werner.
In Ruiz’s case, the Saints have the potential of actually getting a decent return for the starting RG, but even if they can’t, moving on from him is a great move. But who would replace him?
READ MORE: 2025 NFL Trade Deadline Tracker
New Orleans has an undrafted offensive lineman, Torricelli Simpkins III, whom the coaching staff loves and has shown potential to be an NFL starter. Being able to get him started, have him develop, and see if he can be a long-term answer at RG should be a priority.
The other move, which would be trading Werner, is the more likely one. The price for the linebacker would not be high, and any day 3 selection would probably get the deal done. The Saints have already begun taking his snaps away in favor of rookie Danny Stutsman and former UDFA Isaiah Stalbird. The writing is on the wall; a deal needs to get done.