Insider notes on NFL Trade Deadline: Saints turn sellers to avoid 'salary cap hell,' Jaguars' change of plans and more
Less than 24 hours before the NFL trade deadline passes and the rumors are swirling. What, if any, impact will the New Orleans Saints’ firing of Dennis Allen have over the next 22 hours? Are the Carolina Panthers done dealing players off their roster?
Here's the latest from around the NFL.
New Orleans Saints' NFL Trade Deadline plans
With the Saints firing Allen earlier today, the feeling around the league is that the team will be looking to deal players on their roster for draft picks as the rebuilding process is around the corner. Cornerback Marshon Lattimore, the Saints’ first-round pick out of Ohio State in 2017, is on the block and has been connected with the Kansas City Chiefs.
In two articles last week, I stated that the Chiefs are looking to deal for a cornerback prior to the trade deadline.
Yet, trading Lattimore or any other player in their second or third contract could cost the Saints a lot of cap space. I am no NFL cap expert, but as explained to me, the Saints’ more desirable trade pieces have void years in their contracts and money that would be accelerated against the Saints if the team in fact ships them off to another location.
The Saints are projected to be in salary cap hell this offseason, and this will only worsen the situation. As someone close to me said, “The Saints are finally paying the piper for all the cap gymnastics they've played the past decade with contract restructures and accelerating bonus money.”
Jacksonville Jaguars' NFL Trade Deadline plans
Another team wanting to trade off players who may also have a difficult time doing so, though for different reasons, are the Jacksonville Jaguars.
It was reported last week by Adam Schefter of ESPN the Jaguars were negotiating with the Steelers to send Christian Kirk to Pittsburgh but the receiver broke his collarbone, which ended those discussions.
I’m told Jacksonville was willing to discuss shipping offensive guard Brandon Scherff out of town but those plans may be put on hold as the Jaguars are running short of offensive linemen.
Cooper Hodges, the teams seventh round pick in 2023, made his first start against the Eagles on Sunday, replacing the injured Ezra Cleveland. Hodges was playing well but went down in the second half with a serious knee injury.
Still undergoing testing to determine the extent of the injury, Hodges won’t be back anytime soon. Other than Scherff and the injured Cleveland, Jacksonville has just one other pure guard on the depth chart which makes trading the 10-year veteran a bit risky.
The team traded offensive tackle Cam Robinson to the Vikings last week.
Carolina Panthers' NFL Trade Deadline plans
As has been reported, the Panthers are looking to move receiver Adam Thielen, though the interest has been lukewarm. I am told the team would also like to move running back Miles Sanders but is not receiving much interest.
Thielen, the 11-year veteran signed from the Minnesota Vikings two years ago, has played just three games this season and is struggling with a hamstring injury. Sanders, who rushed for more than 1,200 yards and 11 TDs with the Eagles in 2022 before signing with the Panthers, has a measly 134 yards on 36 carries this season.