Saints โฃAim to Balance present โฃSuccess with Future Development Following Trades
New Orleans Saints Head Coach Dennis Allen and โGeneral โManager Mickey Loomis signaled a commitment to bothโ immediate โคcompetitiveness and long-term roster buildingโฃ withโฃ recent โฃtrades involving wide receiver Rashidโ shaheed and โoffensive tackle โtrevor Penning. The moves, announced this week,โ return draft capital while creating opportunities for other players on โฃthe roster.
Shaheed, โa key โcomponent of the Saints’ offense, was the team’s second-leading receiver in 2023 withโข 44 receptions for 449โ yards and two โขtouchdowns, including anโ 87-yard touchdown catch. Penning, a 2022 first-round pick,โ startedโค all six games he played this season and 29 of the 46 โคgames he was available for,โข having transitioned from left tackle โฃto right tackle and then to leftโฃ guard during his tenure.
Despite losing two starters, Coach Dennis Moore emphasized โthe Saints’ continuedโข focus on winning. “There’s a future component of this that’s real with what cameโฃ back in return, but it provides opportunities โคfor some guys that we feel reallyโฃ good about,” Mooreโ said. โคHe specificallyโข highlighted โDillon Radunz‘s readiness to step into the โฃleft guard position, stating, “Dillon is going โคtoโค play left guard, he’sโข going to play grate. He’s had some success in this league, he has played well when โฃwe’ve asked โhim to play.”
Theโค receiver room will alsoโข see โincreased opportunities for players like โBrandin Cooks, Devaughn Vele, and Tip Masonโ Tipton. moore acknowledged Shaheed’s unique skillset, noting, โ”Obviously, there’s the โvertical threat โคthat Sheed has that is rareโ in this league. You lose that component.” โขHowever, he expressed confidence in theโฃ remaining receivers’ ability โto contribute. “Cooksy has done it forโ a โฃlong time in โคhis career,Vele and Tip have some speed to get downfield. So โคwe feel likeโ we’ve got some guys that will be able to supplement that and I’m excited for those guys’ opportunities moving forward.”
Shaheedโข consistently delivered explosive plays, scoring 13 touchdowns ofโฃ 40-plus yards since 2022, โincluding a 76-yard punt return and a 44-yard run. The Saintsโ believe they can maintain a competitive edge while concurrently developing younger players and โbuilding for the future.
