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For the New Orleans Saints, the 2022 campaign will be defined by change. For the first time since the end of the 2005 season, the Saints will be without either Drew Brees or head coach Sean Payton. It’s now in the hands of Dennis Allen, Pete Carmichael, and likely Jameis Winston.
Luckily for the Saints, their 2022 draft class filled most of the gaps on the roster. Sure, the likes of Terron Armstead departed in free agency, but in his place steps Trevor Penning. Chris Olave should also take some of the pressure off Michael Thomas.
This isn’t to say the Saints can’t still improve, however. Here’s three areas the Saints can improve through trades ahead of the 2022 NFL season.
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Saints Trade Targets To Complete 2022 Roster
1. First-Round Pick
The one area of the roster the Saints don't seemingly have a long-term starter is quarterback. Jameis Winston and Andy Dalton are fine for the time being, but if the Saints have their eyes on consistent winning seasons, it's not a sure thing you can rely on either one. The Saints currently do not have a 2023 first-round pick due to their trade up with the Eagles to grab Chris Olave. It's not exactly clear who or what they would trade to get one, but if the Saints are thinking long term, it's likely in their best interest to find a way to get one either in 2023 or wait to use the one they do actually have in 2024.
The 2023 quarterback class is similar to the 2022 group in a lot of ways, most notably its lack of depth whatsoever. But if the Saints can find a way to get a first-round pick in the range to select one of Bryce Young or CJ Stroud come next April, they'll be much better off for it. However, there is one other avenue for finding a franchise quarterback.
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2. Quarterback
If the Saints would rather not wait on finding a longer-term solution than Jameis Winston, there's still one big-time quarterback on the market. You know him, you probably don't love him, but he has still gotten his team to at least the NFC Championship Game in two of the last three seasons … it's Jimmy Garoppolo!
The situation regarding both he and Trey Lance in San Francisco is still very unclear, though it was made known that Garoppolo likely would be dealt this offseason. Reports have come out over the course of minicamps and OTAs that few in the building with the 49ers are impressed with Lance, so there's still a chance Garoppolo suits up at Levi's Stadium in Week 1, but the Saints should keep tabs on him regardless. He's a proven winner despite some high-profile mistakes and is consistently in the top third of starting quarterbacks in this league, something most teams wish they could say about their starter.
3. Tight End
One problem area for the Saints that has gone totally unaddressed is tight end. Adam Trautman figures to lead the line as things stand today, but he has only caught 42 balls in his career thus far. The Taysom Hill experiment at quarterback last season failed, so he now slots in permanently at tight end. Needless to say, this is not an ideal resume for a position group in what could be a high-powered offense with the right personnel.
Finding the right starter at tight end could be a game-changer for the Saints, as it would take some attention from the opposing defense off the likes of Olave, Thomas, Jarvis Landry and Marquez Callaway, allowing them to play at their best. Not many tight ends are on the trade block currently, but that's not to say the Saints can't put out feelers on some and see what teams value them at.
