With roster cuts swiftly approaching, it’s only a matter of time until teams come calling to see if they can get the New Orleans Saints to trade away some players on the roster bubble — and even those who are seemingly positioned to make the team. If the offer is compelling enough, the Saints could choose to lean on their depth at some position groups and part ways with talented players to recoup some value through draft picks or player swaps. It’s happened before.
But who could be on the move? More likely is that other teams may be interested in snatching up a player before the Saints waive them, avoiding the anxious wait-and-see process as waiver claims are processed around the league. With that said, some speculation is already linking a Saints veteran or two to other teams around the league. Let’s explore the four highest-profile Saints trade candidates before the preseason wraps up:
1
Wil Lutz
Lutz is currently in a battle for his job with rookie Blake Grupe. Both kickers have performed really well in camp. Lutz appears to have the edge, but the margin of separation isn’t wide. If the Saints decide to go with Grupe, they could benefit by saving about $2 million against the salary cap. You also have the added benefit of potential trade compensation for Lutz. That wouldn’t be the case with Grupe, who doesn’t have Lutz’s Pro Bowl resume. Because the battle is so close, it shouldn’t be a surprise if Lutz is traded before roster cuts.
2
Zack Baun
Baun has a small role on this defense as the third linebacker in the base defense. The Saints don’t play a lot of base defense, though. There’s also some thought that Jaylon Smith could be able to fill that hole which would make Baun even more expendable. Truthfully, Baun was never a fit for the team and he should have been traded to a defense more befitting of his skillset.
3
Andrus Peat
Assuming he loses the left guard battle to James Hurst, Peat would be a premium trade piece for the Saints. He is a starting-caliber offensive lineman, and there’d be a guaranteed market for him. That being said the Saints should avoid trading him for anything less than a knock-your-socks-off offer. They have dealt with too many injuries on the offensive line over the past couple of years and should try to retain Peat. Having him coming off the bench instead of someone like Lewis Kidd would be big.
4
Bradley Roby
