After the offseason addition of former Las Vegas Raiders QB Derek Carr, the New Orleans Saints entered the 2023 season as the favorites to take home the AFC South title. After a season with considerable ups and downs, the Saints fell short of that goal — narrowly missing out on a playoff spot after a 9-8 campaign.

The 9-8 record does not tell the entire story though. The offense sputtered through inconsistency, struggling to turn yards into points as the Superdome crowd frequently booed a frustrated Carr. Seven of the team's nine wins came against teams that finished with 10 or more losses, and the inability to beat future playoff teams like the Green Bay Packers and Los Angeles Rams in close contests kept this squad out of the postseason.

Despite the turmoil, New Orleans has the offseason to build via the NFL Draft, free agency, and possibly trades. The Saints have not been active in the trade market in recent years, as the last player they acquired was running back Mark Ingram in October 2021. But a few key additions would be a big difference-maker for a franchise needing a boost. Here are two trade targets for the Saints this offseason.

Courtland Sutton (WR), Denver Broncos

In a year with so much offensive promise, the New Orleans Saints offense never was consistently able to produce. One of the biggest factors holding back this offense was a lack of playmaking in the passing game. Chris Olave had a strong sophomore campaign, once again surpassing the 1,000-yard mark, but Rashid Shaheed was too inconsistent as a number-two wideout to trouble opposing defenses. Shaheed — who finished the year with 719 yards — had just one 100-yard game and did not have more than five catches in a contest. His ability to stretch the field was key, but that threat alone does not make him good enough to be a second option in this New Orleans passing attack.

Surprisingly, the Saints did not do much to address this need in the offseason. The team added free agent Cedric Wilson, who had 22 catches for 296 yards for the Miami Dolphins last season, and drafted Pittsburgh wideout Bub Means in the fifth round. While useful additions, neither are the high-impact player this New Orleans offense needs.

Courtland Sutton has been a steady WR2 for the Denver Broncos in recent years, averaging 792 yards per year over the last three seasons. The Broncos are in rebuild mode and already traded WR1 Jerry Jeudy this offseason. Sutton has been a holdout during offseason OTAs as he demands a new contract, which could expedite his departure from the Mile High City.

Josh Sweat (DE), Philadelphia Eagles

Defensive end is a clear need for a New Orleans team that struggled to generate any pass rush last season. The Saints had the fourth-fewest sacks and the fifth-lowest pressure rate of any team in the NFL in 2023. Cameron Jordan had a career-low two sacks and at age 34, is not a Pro Bowl-caliber player anymore. Carl Granderson (8.5 sacks) was the only Saints player to register more than seven sacks on the year.

As with wide receiver, the Saints did not thoroughly address this need in the offseason. The team added the talented but injury-prone Chase Young, who has played 43 of 67 games in his four-year NFL career. One player the Saints should look to is Philadelphia Eagles defensive end Josh Sweat. Sweat was a Pro Bowler in 2021 and finished with a career-high 11 sacks in 2022. He had a bit of a down year in 2023 but was still a productive player for Philly. Sweat is also a free agent in 2025, making him a more affordable trade piece for the Saints.