Two competing ideas can be true for the New Orleans Saints regarding the [NFL trade deadline](https://www.nola.com/tncms/asset/editorial/0bd385d3-c822-47d3-90de-69ee5be3c83c/).
One, moving on from either wide receiver Chris Olave or Rashid Shaheed might hurt [Tyler Shough](https://www.nola.com/tncms/asset/editorial/5c35ec16-c796-461d-b8d0-03ad1c240dff/)’s development.
Two, sending at least one wideout away could be the best for the franchise in the long haul.
Shough’s first start, Sunday against the Los Angeles Rams, comes at a fascinating time for the Saints. The black and gold must see what they have in their second-round quarterback over the final nine games. But at 1-7, the Saints have the kind of record that puts them at the epicenter of the league’s Nov. 4 trade deadline. And the Saints have two receivers — Olave and Shaheed — who might fetch real value, assets that would, in turn, accelerate the team’s rebuild.
That’s a delicate position to be in. Could Shough’s first start be his last … throwing to Olave and/or Shaheed?
“I don’t think you’re worried about it one bit,” Saints coach Kellen Moore said when asked how Shough’s development could be impacted by what the Saints do at the deadline. “We have an awesome group of guys. Yeah, we haven’t won enough games, but the way this group practices still, the energy that it brings … it’s a really awesome group.”
The Saints could just look at last year’s team to see how dire a young quarterback’s play can be without top wideouts to target.
With season-ending injuries to Olave and Shaheed last fall, Spencer Rattler spent most of his rookie season throwing to the likes of Marquez Valdes-Scantling, Mason Tipton and Kevin Austin. Rattler didn’t just struggle from a completion percentage standpoint, but the circumstances made it difficult to properly assess the signal-caller.
Avoiding a repeat scenario with Shough would be ideal, especially if the Saints end up with a top pick in next year’s draft and have to determine whether to pick a quarterback. As much as teams try to stay patient with prospects, the chance to draft a signal-caller near the top of the draft doesn’t tend to come around often.
To make that decision, the Saints need to understand as much as they can about Shough — and he has to show them what he’s capable of. Trading away his top target(s) could again complicate that evaluation, though the Saints' depth at receiver appears to be better this year.
That said, the prudent move still might be to trade one of Olave or Shaheed — if not both.
That obviously depends on the compensation that the Saints would receive, but last year’s Marshon Lattimore deal was a great example of how New Orleans could spin a veteran for positive assets. In sending the cornerback to the Washington Commanders, the Saints then received several draft picks they used to take safety Jonas Sanker, cornerback Quincy Riley and running back Devin Neal — two starters and one key reserve.
ESPN insider Adam Schefter also fanned the flames this week when he said that he thinks “at least one” Saints receiver would be traded by next week.
“If I had to bet, I would say that Rashid Shaheed is the guy who interests most teams for his speed and his talent,” Schefter said on his podcast. “And the guy whose contract is up after this year, who the Saints, I think, would be most willing to part with if the compensation were fair and right.”
So, “what’s fair and right” for Shaheed? Schefter reported the Saints would like a third-round pick for the 27-year-old, which is more than what the team gave up for Vele (a fourth and a seventh).
A third-round pick would also be more than what Shaheed could fetch as a compensatory pick if he were to sign elsewhere in free agency.
“What round his contract would be valued in (for a comp pick) depends on how much he'd sign for per year with his new team,” Over The Cap analyst Nick Korte said in a direct message, noting any such compensation also depends on how active the Saints are in free agency. “This is an extremely early estimate that is subject to change, but I would guess he'd need at least $16 (million) APY to make the 4th round, and at least $10 (million) APY for the 5th.”
If the Saints do trade one of their wideouts, it’s easy to wonder if they were bracing for the move.
Look at the last few months. New Orleans acquired Devaughn Vele from the Denver Broncos in late August and then Ja’Lynn Polk from the New England Patriots in September — despite the latter missing the entire season with a shoulder injury. Both are still on their rookie-scale contracts, too.
Perhaps that’s simply overthinking it. But part of running an NFL team is to always account for the future, even when it conflicts with the present.