ESPN is challenging the Saints to do the right thing at the trade deadline

The New Orleans Saints are currently 2-6, and they’re set to play the 1-7 Carolina Panthers on Sunday. The Saints have been bad recently, but they haven’t been Carolina Panthers bad. With Derek Carr back in the lineup, New Orleans should get a win over Carolina and move to 3-6.

While winning is good, that may not ultimately be the best thing for the Saints. The reason why is that a Week 9 win could justify a bad decision from New Orleans.

The Tuesday following the game, November 5, is the NFL trade deadline. The Saints have already made it clear they have no intention to be sellers, and a win on Sunday would only strengthen that stance. However, NFL analysts have been urging the team to reconsider this trade-deadline approach.

Bill Barnwell, in a recent piece for ESPN, detailed how each team should approach the deadline. Barnwell explained that any team with New Orleans’ circumstances would absolutely be sellers. However, he acknowledges the Saints follow their own rules, and will likely stay put, even though they should move some players.

"There are the rules for every other team and the rules for the Saints, who exist in their own universe. While they've gotten younger this season, any other team would face facts after looking at one of the league's oldest rosters and what is likely to be a fourth consecutive season without a playoff trip. If this team has any ambitions of doing anything besides winning nine games and serving as a monument to salary cap restructures, it needs to give up the ghost and start what is probably going to be a multiyear rebuild."

- Bill Barnwell (ESPN)

Bill Barnwell says Saints need to move players at the trade deadline

Barnwell laid out exactly why New Orleans should offload players at the trade deadline. The team has a very slim chance of making the playoffs, and the roster is old and expensive. The trade deadline is the perfect opportunity to jumpstart a rebuild. By refusing to accept that reality, New Orleans is committing to a cycle of mediocrity.

Fans have realized that, and that’s why they’re fed up with the team. From coaching changes to player changes, fans have made it clear they want to see something different. While drastic changes are unlikely at the trade deadline, the hope is that New Orleans finally decides yo shake things up this offseason.

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