Trevor Penning
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Trevor Penning was dealt to the Chargers at the trade deadline.
The New Orleans Saints traded away offensive lineman Trevor Penning to the Los Angeles Chargers for a 2027 sixth-round pick right before the end of the trade deadline.
Penning was selected 19th overall in the 2022 NFL Draft by the Saints, and has spent the majority of his career bouncing around different spots on the offensive line.
After drafting two offensive tackles, Taliese Fuaga in the first round in 2024, and Kelvin Banks Jr. in 2025, Penning was considered the odd man out.
The 26-year-old now heads to Los Angeles to help out a Chargers offensive line unit that has been decimated by injuries.
Penning dealt with an injury of his own to begin the year, missing the first three games of 2025 with a toe injury. He has since returned and started at left guard in New Orleans’ last six games.
With this trade, it marks two that the Saints made on the day of the trade deadline, also moving on from Rashid Shaheed earlier in the day. Both moves showed that New Orleans is looking to move on from expiring contracts.
Currently in his fourth year in the NFL, Penning is in the final year of his rookie contract, as the Saints chose not to accept his fifth-year option. The offensive lineman is set to be a free agent at the end of the year.
Who Will Replace Penning?
Penning served as New Orleans’ starting left guard in each game he appeared in this season, leaving an opening in his absence.
There seems to be two main candidates to slot in at the left guard spot moving forward, either
Torricelli Simpkins III or Dillon Radunz.
Simpkins III got the start at left guard in Week 3, as well as appearing in Week 4 at right guard and starting Week 5 in the same spot.
The undrafted rookie has shown flashes in his limited playing time, and may have earned the trust of his coaching staff to be given the starting job.
Radunz started the year as the starting left guard, playing every snap through the first two weeks of the season.
The former 2021 second-round pick is in his fifth year of professional football, and would be the more experienced option of the two to slot in at left guard.
With how the first three weeks of the season played out, the Saints could also elect to try both options out again, and have the two continually battle to keep the job.
New Orleans Is Building Draft Capital
In recent memory, the Saints have done their best to stay competitive every year, but 2025 is a different story. The team understands that with a 1-8 record, they should look to the future.
After Tuesday’s deadline moves, New Orleans has picks in the first six rounds of the 2026 NFL Draft, including two selections in the fifth round.
The Penning trade adds a pick to the 2027 Draft, supplementing the sixth-rounder the team shipped out to acquire Ja’Lynn Polk earlier this season.
It’s clear the Saints will be looking for youthful talent in the draft during upcoming years to help get back on track.