This New Orleans Saints trade proposal at Bleacher Report missed the mark. While listing trade candidates for every team around the league after the June 1 deadline, B/R’s Kristopher Knox suggested the Saints move starting left tackle James Hurst so they can save some salary cap space — when they’re already under the cap by more than $11 million, ranking in the top half of the NFL.
Knox wrote:
The New Orleans Saints used the 19th overall pick in the 2022 draft on offensive tackle Trevor Penning, who appeared to be the team’s left tackle of the future. However, Penning didn’t see the field until November because of a foot injury, and he made just a single start.
The Saints are still very high on the 24-year-old, though, and should finally get an extended look at him in 2023.
“The sky’s the limit in terms of what he can do,” head coach Dennis Allen said, per Luke Johnson of NOLA.com. “He’s big, he’s physical, I love his play demeanor. He’s athletic for a guy his size. We’re excited about the player.”
With Penning set to take over on the left side, New Orleans should seriously consider trading James Hurst, who started 36 games for the Saints over the last three seasons. While he could be a valuable depth piece, he’s also 31 years old and entering the final year of his current contract.
Because of New Orleans’ propensity for kicking contract dollars down the road, the Saints are projected to be $77.3 million over the cap next offseason. It’s virtually impossible to see a scenario in which Hurst returns, and trading him now would save $5.5 million in 2023 cap space.
The Saints would recoup $3.25 million in 2024 salary cap space by trading Hurst now, but that’s something they’ll worry about in 2024. Keeping Hurst in the building whether or not he’s starting at left tackle is worth the price. Until Penning can prove he can hold up and start 17 games (plus postseason matchups) and play at a high level, they need a real insurance policy here.
Frankly, the offensive line performed too poorly last year to let veteran depth walk away. Saving a little more cap space when they’re already well in the clear would be wildly irresponsible. There are too many young players and guys managing injuries to move on from Hurst unless another team badly overpays, and that isn’t a realistic expectation.
And Hurst has positional versatility to line up everywhere, which is important when starting guards Andrus Peat and Cesar Ruiz are both returning from injuries, too. Even if he isn’t starting in Week 1 at left tackle, odds are strong that Hurst will start games for the Saints in games later in the season, either at tackle or inside at guard. That was his role when the Saints first signed him to back up Terron Armstead.
