The Saints may have ended the season well, but these two players still couldn't secure their roster spots.
Looking through the New Orleans Saints roster, many positions jump out as ones that must be upgraded this offseason. The success of QB Tyler Shough has opened up a window for the Saints to compete and, hopefully, win a Super Bowl. The odds of that happening next season are extremely low, but the next step must be taken: competing in the NFC South.
With this in mind, there's a good chance the Saints will be aggressive throughout the offseason, but in the trade market, it's a bit different. Draft capital is a premium asset for New Orleans, and sending any away to buy players is best avoided. That doesn't mean the Saints should avoid a trade, especially if they can ship two specific players who disappointed in 2025.
Who Could the Saints Trade Away?
Sometimes, when teams enter the trade market to sell players, they may overvalue their assets or believe they are better off keeping the players if a good deal does not come their way. Well, the Saints can't do that with OL Cesar Ruiz and LB Pete Werner.
Cesar Ruiz
This past season, the Saints' offensive line was arguably the most disappointing unit on the roster, aside from maybe special teams. LT and RT were excellent, with rookie Kelvin Banks Jr. playing out of his mind, and when Taliese Fuaga was healthy, he showed once again why he is a franchise tackle. The issue was the interior.
C Erik McCoy went down with a season-ending injury after their Week 7 game against the Chicago Bears. LG was a mess after moving Trevor Penning there; it did not work. And RG Cesar Ruiz (the only starter on the interior) took a step back this season.
Being in year 6 and a former first-round pick, it's unacceptable for Ruiz to struggle like he did this season. Yes, there were a few great pass protection moments during games, but it was way too inconsistent. The Saints need to find upgrades at LG and RG this offseason, and although the price may be low, trading Ruiz will be the best way to start that process.
Pete Werner
On defense, Werner is another player that New Orleans must consider trading away. Focusing on just last season, Werner was in and out of the lineup, being subbed out frequently for Danny Stutsman and Isaiah Stallbird throughout games. Already, his role is being diminished, but when he was on the field, opposing offenses were targeting him when running the ball.
Werner is still able to make those big plays that keep the defense fired up, but with how much of an issue the run defense was, the Saints need to move on and invest a bit more at LB.