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The NFL’s trading deadline is set for Oct. 31 at 3:00 p.m. CT, but doesn’t figure to offer the luster that the MLB, NHL, and NBA does. Still, there’s potential for some big deals to go down. What about the New Orleans Saints? After all, they’ve already made some trades this season, sending former 2015 first-round pick Stephone Anthony to the Dolphins and future Hall of Famer Adrian Peterson to the Cardinals.
USA Today suggests that the Cardinals should look at the Saints as one of three potential suitors for wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald, as the team is being labeled a contender (imagine that). Both NFL.com and ESPN believe that third-year player Hau’oli Kikaha could be a player on the trading block for the black and gold, and the New England Patriots have been a popular suitor, but the compensation seems lacking with them being short on 2018 draft picks. Panning over the roster, Kikaha feels like the most realistic player the Saints could move off of.
Kikaha, who was originally drafted in in the second round of 2015’s draft, was reportedly a name to be on the lookout for at the trade deadline on Oct. 20. The Saints took the 3-4 OLB prospect and tried him at JACK and SAM through camp, and the release of Junior Galette only helped Kikaha in his rookie season.
In 2016, the Saints moved Kikaha to defensive end, but it was short-lived as he tore his ACL just a couple of months into the new season during camp. He came back in 2017 to participate in OTAs, minicamp, training camp, and the preseason, stamping a spot into the final 53-man roster. His limited action this season, 82 snaps to be exact, has produced 2.0 sacks (Patriots and Panthers), as he’s been used in the team’s NASCAR package.
However, the big shock came in Week 7 against the Green Bay Packers when Kikaha was a healthy inactive in favor of Al-Quadin Muhammad, coincidentally just a couple of days after the trade rumor. Both Muhammad and Trey Hendrickson, who are rookies, have stepped up to the plate this season. With Alex Okafor already shining too, Kikaha certainly feels like the odd man out.
Compensation for Kikaha doesn’t feel like it’d score a big return. However, stockpiling picks for 2018 isn’t a particularly bad thing, especially with Jeff Ireland’s track record.
Poll
If you were Mickey Loomis, would you try to trade Hau’oli Kikaha?
Here’s a few of the staff’s thoughts with Saints trades:
Ellias Williams: Trade a 5th for Martellus Bennett or a 5th for a MLB or a TE to give Drew Brees a security blanket with a wide catch radius like a Martavis Bryant, but I think Brandon Coleman has been good. I’d swap Kikaha for a good linebacker if I could.
JM Di Giulio: I'd love it if some desperate team offered a 4th for Kikaha. I'd keep P.J. Williams, and I don't want Martavis Bryant - he's not worth it given length of contract and non-football attention.
Tee Word: Kikaha for a good pick.
John Sigler: I’ll say Terrelle Pryor. Bad fit in DC, could benefit from good coaching from Curtis Johnson. Jesse James from Pittsburgh would be a fun addition. Would love to pry away Anthony Barr from the Vikings somehow as my ultimate YOLO scenario.
Adam Williamson: Trade Coby Fleener for... anything? Really cool Yeti cooler? Maybe a pick for a competent tight end? The Saints aren't even using Fleener because tight end isn't even important in this offense anymore. I wouldn't want to give more than a 6th for a pass catching TE right now because of that reason alone. The Saints just aren’t utilizing the position as much Weeks 3-7 as we did Week 1 and 2. Fleener played fine when we wanted to involve him it seemed.
I was on a lonely island in suggesting that cornerback P.J. Williams could be a trade candidate. The Saints are due to get Delvin Breaux back soon, and they’re already sitting Sterling Moore. With rookie Marshon Lattimore stealing the show, Ken Crawley having some strong moments, and De’Vante Harris playing primarily on special teams, the former third-rounder could be intriguing for some team out there. With the defense placing more of an emphasis on a 3-safety set, the need for a slot corner would figure to be anyone other than Williams. Maybe it’s just a wild coincidence that he’s only played in three total defensive snaps since landing in Sean Payton’s dog house in the Miami game.