In a dramatic move just minutes before the 2025 NFL trade deadline, the New Orleans Saints agreed to send a former first-round pick to the Los Angeles Chargers. The deal, confirmed by multiple outlets, sends offensive lineman Trevor Penning to Los Angeles in exchange for a 2027 sixth-round pick.
Trevor Penning—From First Round to Dead-Line Deal
Jun 16, 2025; El Segundo, CA, USA; Los Angeles Chargers coach Jim Harbaugh during organized team activities at The Bolt. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
Jun 16, 2025; El Segundo, CA, USA; Los Angeles Chargers coach Jim Harbaugh during organized team activities at The Bolt. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
Penning was selected 19th overall by the Saints in the 2022 NFL Draft out of Northern Iowa. The 6’7″, 325-lb lineman started at left tackle for New Orleans, but his tenure has been marred by injuries, inconsistent performance and positional shuffles. In 2025, the Saints chose not to pick up his fifth-year option—setting the stage for a departure.
What the Chargers Get
The Chargers jumped in because their offensive line has faced major injury setbacks—most notably the season-ending ACL to star tackle Rashawn Slater and the ankle surgery to Joe Alt. Penning now joins a team needing immediate help in protecting quarterback Justin Herbert and stabilizing their run game.
While his production has been uneven (Pro Football Focus ranked him 65th among guards through six games this season) the opportunity in Los Angeles offers a fresh start.
Why the Saints Made the Move
Sep 22, 2024; New Orleans, Louisiana, USA; New Orleans Saints offensive tackle Trevor Penning (70) looks on against the Philadelphia Eagles during the first half at Caesars Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Lew-Imagn Images
Sep 22, 2024; New Orleans, Louisiana, USA; New Orleans Saints offensive tackle Trevor Penning (70) looks on against the Philadelphia Eagles during the first half at Caesars Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Lew-Imagn Images
New Orleans, sitting at 1-8 this season and depleted of future draft capital, is clearly shifting toward a longer-term rebuild mindset. Trading Penning—who carries a former-first-round tag yet has yet to fulfill it—signals a departure from retaining high-risk assets for short-term gain.
The pick received may be modest, but it frees up roster space and accelerates the reset.
Outlook & Impact
For the Chargers: If Penning stays healthy and adapts quickly to a new scheme, he could become a cornerstone on the offensive line—and help the team sustain its playoff push.
For the Saints: The move symbolically ends a chapter and opens others. The question now: how swiftly can they rebuild around younger talent, free from the weight of unfulfilled first-round investments?
For Penning: The next few weeks will matter. A return to form in a better supporting situation could revive his career; further struggles will raise questions about his original draft status.
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