Saints Trade Proposal: Ex-First Round QB Headed to New Orleans

There may be few teams, if any, in the NFL with as much uncertainty at the quarterback spot as the New Orleans Saints.

Following the recent retirement of seasoned quarterback Derek Carr, the Saints now face a season with theirQB room consisting of Tyler Shough, Spencer Rattler, and Jake Haener. Shough, who was selected in the second round of this year’s draft, appears to be favored for the starting position.

If we suppose the Saints cannot identify anyone more capable than Shough for the starting position, it still appears probable that they would seek out alternative backup choices offering greater potential compared to the current alternatives. These trade prospects may not be accessible in May, yet as the preseason approaches, circumstances might evolve, making them potentially obtainable.

In a recent piece for ClutchPoints, Jaren Kawada highlighted an interesting point about this particular topic.
potential trade target
For the Saints—Cleveland Browns quarterback Kenny Pickett, who was previously selected as a first-round pick by the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2022.

The Browns selected Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders in the 2025 NFL Draft… (and) with Joe Flacco also on the team, the off-season competition will be intense,” Kawada noted. “Given that they used a third-round pick on Gabriel, the Browns have no intention of letting him go easily. It’s probable that either Flacco or Sanders will face elimination when the final roster cuts are made.

In that scenario, Cleveland would face no problems in trading Pickett to New Orleans. While he isn’t the final solution, his experience makes him suitable as a transitional quarterback until the Saints identify their genuine long-term option, be it Shough or someone else.

Pickett, who is 26 years old, failed to meet expectations during his time in Pittsburgh. This ultimately resulted in a trade that positioned him as the backup for the Philadelphia Eagles in 2024. Throughout his career, he has started in 15 wins and lost 10 games, maintaining a passer rating of 79.3 and recording a touchdown-to-interception ratio of 15 to 14.

Although Saints supporters may not be excited about the possibility of Pickett starting games for them in 2025, obtaining a seasoned player with some history could sometimes provide a morale lift to the team environment.

More NFL:


Saints Expected to Make Key Position Choice for First-Round Selection

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Saints-Browns Mega Trade Proposal Sends Ex-First Round QB to New Orleans
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