Cornerbacks the Saints should target to help their secondary

Intriguing trade targets

It’s tough to gage which players certain teams are willing to trade away this early in the season. All teams are competing at their highest level, with playoff hopes either very high, or average at the worst.

Giving away important rotational players, let alone starters, is not something most front offices are comfortable with doing 3.5 weeks into the season. So, these three corners are “dream scenarios,” but that doesn’t mean they are impossible. 

Desmond King, Los Angeles Chargers

Desmond King (23 years old, one career interception) is the youngest option here. He’s wildly talented as well, while being in just his second year with Los Angeles. King can play inside and out, being utilized best in nickel packages towards the slot.

He’s smaller and fairly athletic, reminiscent of Browns rookie Denzel Ward. It would be an absolute long-shot to pull King away from a talented secondary for a surging team, but his value could easily be a mid-round pick in 2020.

Darius Slay, Detroit Lions

Darius Slay is an absolute long shot, as Detroit values his play and production immensely. But, he is the best cornerback on one of the poorer teams in the NFL. Every player has a price, too, and pairing Slay with Lattimore would be a top combo in the league. Slay, a second round pick in 2013, has 15 career interceptions, including eight in 2017 alone.

His discipline and athleticism outshine both Crawley and Williams, so it would be an incredible upgrade. His contract is roughly $10 million per year, something the Saints can’t afford unless they were to send a player back to Detroit. Which is possible, especially packaged with a higher draft pick in 2020.