The New Orleans Saints have desperately needed a CB2 for the 2021 season and now they have just that, as they’ve traded for Texans cornerback Bradley Roby.
Ian Rapoport reported the trade on Wednesday morning and noted that Roby is suspended for Week 1 but at this point, the corner probably wouldn’t have been in the cards for Sunday’s game against the Packers anyway.
This is a tremendous move by New Orleans, who are getting a 29-year-old, whose had at least one interception in each of his seven seasons in the league.
Sources: The #Texans are trading starting CB Bradley Roby to the #Saints. The deal is being finalized now. He’s suspended Week 1, but should help immensely at a position of need.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) September 8, 2021
Bradley Roby is joining the New Orleans Saints.
With this move, the Saints gain an experienced cornerback to pair with Marshon Lattimore and Ken Crawley, both of whom will be the starters in the first game of the season. Lattimore is also facing a potential suspension down the road.
The Saints have done what they can to upgrade their secondary this offseason and this is the latest example of them being serious about making sure they field the best possible defense in 2021. With there still being some major question marks surrounding the offensive side of the ball, the defense could be what the team leans on this year as Jameis Winston returns to a starting role for the first time since 2019.
Some might wonder how the Saints are going to afford to pay Roby considering their salary cap situation. Ross Jackson of Canal Street Chronicles tweeted that Roby is due $9 million and $10 million next year it’s non-guaranteed. The Saints will likely have to move some money around in order to make sure they can pay Roby. They had asked Latavius Murray if he’d restructure his deal and he declined, which is why he’s no longer a Saint.
This is a good move for New Orleans, as it gives them their starting CB2 for at least this year and hopefully next year as well.