It’s been a busy week for the New Orleans Saints on the trade market, but they aren’t finished yet. The Athletic’s Dianna Russini reports the Saints are among several teams calling around in search of help at running back. Russini adds that the Cleveland Browns and Kansas City Chiefs are also in the mix.
New Orleans has had trouble finding a tag-team partner for Alvin Kamara. Kendre Miller continues to flash big-play potential, but durability is a major concern given his injury history. Velus Jones Jr., a 200-pound former wide receiver, is the only rusher in the backfield averaging more than three yards per carry through two preseason games. Clyde Edwards-Helaire has had some nice moments in pass protection but we haven’t seen enough out of guys like Cam Akers and Marcus Yarns. Rookie sixth-round pick Devin Neal is hoping to dress for the final preseason game after an untimely hamstring injury took him out of action for the first two weeks of exhibition.
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So who could be on the Saints’ radar? The obvious one is Brian Robinson Jr., a former third-round pick by the Washington Commanders who has fallen out of favor in a contract year. Robinson put up career numbers last season with 799 rushing yards and 8 touchdown runs. Robinson was held out of Washington’s last preseason game due to ongoing trade interest from other teams.
Other names to watch: Minnesota Vikings backup Ty Chandler and Green Bay Packers rusher Emanuel Wilson. Chandler broke out with 461 rushing yards at 4.5 yards per carry in 2023 but has seen his role reduced in Minnesota’s backfield in the years since. Wilson has consistently produced when given opportunities, clocking an even 5.0 yards per rush in two years, but there may not be enough touches to go around in Green Bay. Another name to keep an eye on is Jerome Ford. He’s run hard for the Cleveland Browns, improving his per-carry average year by year, and he has some versatility in the passing game given his five touchdown catches in 2023. Cleveland may not be interested in extending his contract after this season, which could make him available.
We’ll see if the Saints can cut another deal before the roster cuts deadline on Aug. 26. They’re already down to just five picks in the 2026 NFL draft after trades for nose tackle Davon Godchaux and wide receiver Devaughn Vele, and it’s not looking like they’ll be getting a fourth rounder back as a comp pick for cornerback Paulson Adebo. They also swapped defensive tackle Khalen Saunders for center Luke Fortner in a player-for-player trade with the Jacksonville Jaguars. For a team that was expected to let off the gas, stack up draft picks, and reload for the search for their next quarterback, they aren’t acting like it.
This article originally appeared on Saints Wire: Brian Robinson Jr., Emanuel Wilson make sense as Saints trade targets