A potential move that could really help the Saints.
When the New Orleans Saints entered the 2026 offseason, EDGE was arguably the biggest need for the team. Many of the big names in free agency were signed early, so going into the draft, the Saints were likely going to target a first-round or day-2 pass rusher. Well, that didn't happen either, and instead, they traded for Tyree Wilson from the Las Vegas Raiders and signed former New England Patriot Anfernee Jennings. Wilson was a former first-round draft pick for the Raiders who never came close to that level of production in the NFL, and Jennings is a much better run defender than pass rusher. Cam Jordan's later return also helped solidify a strong rotation, but in Week 1 against the Lions, we already saw some of those issues.
Stopping Young was a priority for the Lions, and once they did, it gave other pass rushers on the roster a chance to affect the game. Instead, Granderson wasn't great as a pass rusher, Tyree Wilson missed too many tackles, and Jennings made his impact in the run game. The second-best pass rusher came from the DT room: Vernon Broughton. It was clear that the Saints were missing Cam Jordan, but with his age, there’s no guarantee he can help deal with this issue.
The Saints' defense can survive without upgrading the EDGE room this season, but if they want to take the next step in this rebuild, surviving isn't enough. So, it brings up a potential move that almost happened in the offseason.
During the 2026 NFL Draft, rumors swirled that the Saints were trying to make a deal for New York Giants EDGE Kayvon Thibodeaux. It seemed like the Saints were willing to trade away their third-round pick, which ended up being Bryce Lance, but the Giants held firm at a second-round pick. The Saints couldn't do that, and it's a good thing because Christen Miller was a good pick, but it’s not too late to revisit that conversation.
The 2027 NFL Draft is supposed to be incredible, and teams will try to get as much draft capital as possible. With the season underway, the Saints may be able to get a deal done for Thibodeaux by sending a third-round pick, which, for the short term and long term of this defensive line, could be a great move. But with the Giants trying to compete, they may stay strong at a second-round pick.
